Microwave Generation Research Articles

A microwave discharge in high-velocity flows initiated by a half-wave antenna

A microwave discharge in high-velocity (150—250 m/s) air flows induced on a half-wave vibrator is studied. A cw magnetron microwave generator with a frequency of 2.45 GHz and an output power of up to 5 kW was used for initiation of the microwave discharge. The high-speed video imaging was used for studying the discharge structure, determining the diameter and length of the plasma channel as a function of flow velocity and pressure. Electron concentration and temperature, along with characteristic gas temperature, were determined based on the optical spectra. The possibility of using this microwave discharge for ignition of hydrocarbon–air mixtures in combustion chambers of ramjet engines is proved experimentally.

Tunable microwave and optical frequency comb generator with the aid of cascaded MZM structure

Tunable microwave and optical frequency comb generator with the aid of cascaded MZM structure

Octave-spanning Kerr soliton frequency combs in dispersion- and dissipation-engineered lithium niobate microresonators

Dissipative Kerr solitons from optical microresonators, commonly referred to as soliton microcombs, have been developed for a broad range of applications, including precision measurement, optical frequency synthesis, and ultra-stable microwave and millimeter wave generation, all on a chip. An important goal for microcombs is self-referencing, which requires octave-spanning bandwidths to detect and stabilize the comb carrier envelope offset frequency. Further, detection and locking of the comb spacings are often achieved using frequency division by electro-optic modulation. The thin-film lithium niobate photonic platform, with its low loss, strong second- and third-order nonlinearities, as well as large Pockels effect, is ideally suited for these tasks. However, octave-spanning soliton microcombs are challenging to demonstrate on this platform, largely complicated by strong Raman effects hindering reliable fabrication of soliton devices. Here, we demonstrate entirely connected and octave-spanning soliton microcombs on thin-film lithium niobate. With appropriate control over microresonator free spectral range and dissipation spectrum, we show that soliton-inhibiting Raman effects are suppressed, and soliton devices are fabricated with near-unity yield. Our work offers an unambiguous method for soliton generation on strongly Raman-active materials. Further, it anticipates monolithically integrated, self-referenced frequency standards in conjunction with established technologies, such as periodically poled waveguides and electro-optic modulators, on thin-film lithium niobate.

Enhancing uniformity and energy efficiency of microwave heating for different cavity loads: Frequency-shifting strategies using feedback signals from solid-state microwave generators

Novel solid-state generators offer precise control of the microwave field, a valuable capability for increasing energy efficiency and uniformity of heating through tailored frequency-selection strategies. Recent research, however, overlooks to test the adaptability of promising strategies to different microwave cavity loads. However, adaptability is crucial for real-world applications. Our study compared the performance of various strategies in the context of different microwave cavity loads, using cylindrical Gellan gel samples of 130 g and different diameters from 50 mm to 200 mm. Strategies using frequency-dependent feedback signals gathered by the microwave generator itself excelled in identifying optimal excitation frequencies across all investigated heating scenarios. These feedback signals identified resonant frequencies specific to each load before heating, enabling excitation at all resonant frequencies and achieving maximum uniformity at high energy efficiency. Additionally, feedback signals helped identify the most energy-efficient product before heating trials. In summary, detecting sample feedback before processing via the solid-state generator itself allows tailored responses to individual heating tasks of the microwave oven user.

Microwave and Radiofrequency Ablation: A Comparative Study between Technologies in Ex Vivo Tissues

In this paper, we report on the use of a purpose-built hybrid solid-state microwave and radiofrequency generator operating at frequencies of 2.45 GHz and/or 480 kHz for cancer ablation in various tissues. The hybrid generator was tested ex vivo on chicken breast and bovine liver and has demonstrated that the high accuracy of the power delivered to the sample can be achieved by controlling the emitted power versus the temperature profile of the treated sample. In particular, the hybrid generator incorporates control systems based on impedance or reflected power measurements that allow controlled ablation without causing unwanted carbonization and without including areas where tissue damage is not desired. The results of the ex vivo tests showed that radiofrequency ablation (RFA) could be effective for performing controlled ablations with minimally invasive probes, such as cardiac pathologies, small lesions, and tissues with particular composition, while microwave ablation (MWA) could be optimal for performing large ablations in highly vascularized tissues, such as liver cancer, where it is necessary to achieve higher temperatures.

Volumetric Image Analysis Of Pulsed Non-Thermal Plasma Produced By Microwave

We have been developing microwave pulsed mode ignition system using 2.45 GHz microwaves. This technology has shown improvements in the lean combustion limit and fuel efficiency using a real engine with propane using a microwave discharged igniter (MDI). However, the MDI’s expensive parts are a major drawback when compared to common igniters. For practicality, we shifted to a more economical flat spiral igniter to generate plasma enabling stable and sustained non-equilibrium plasma in the atmosphere. Incorporating semiconductor elements, we miniaturized the microwave generator system, enhancing compactness and increasing its efficiency. Initial plasma was generated by the partial energy from the microwaves (1 mJ) and the sustained plasma was maintained in the atmosphere by the rest of the microwave’s energy. We varied long to short-pulsed modes, changed microwave pulse widths, increasing repetition rates which affecting plasma volume and stability. Our findings highlight the significance of microwave input patterns and the transition from thermal to non-equilibrium plasma. Future discussions should focus on the ignition mechanisms of various fuels and the transition from plasma source to initialization region. Our work contributes to the understanding and practical application of non-thermal plasma in combustion systems.

Quantum-dot spin-VCSELs subject to optical injection and feedback for flexible photonic millimeter wave generation

A novel microwave and millimeter wave signal generation system is proposed and numerically demonstrated using an optically pumped quantum dot (QD) spin-polarized vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (spin-VCSEL) with optical injection. Different from previous optical injection systems, the signal frequency in our proposed system is dominated by both the birefringence-splitting and injection detuning frequencies. By flexibly tailoring the frequency detuning and birefringence rate, the frequency ranges from a few gigahertz to nearly 150 GHz can be obtained. To evaluate the signal quality, the dynamical behaviors of the proposed system and the characteristics of the generated millimeter wave signal are evaluated including the center frequency, power, linewidth, and phase variance. We further adopt the optical feedback structure to improve the microwave and millimeter wave signal performance. Results show that the signal linewidth and phase variance can be optimized by three to four orders of magnitude. Compared to the case of a solitary QD spin-VCSEL, this work shows more stable performance, particularly in the frequency range above 90 GHz. This scheme offers an approach for high-purity microwave and millimeter sources in wireless communication and radar systems.

200 GHz single chip microsystems for dynamic nuclear polarization enhanced NMR spectroscopy

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) is one of the most powerful and versatile hyperpolarization methods to enhance nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals. A major drawback of DNP is the cost and complexity of the required microwave hardware, especially at high magnetic fields and low temperatures. To overcome this drawback and with the focus on the study of nanoliter and subnanoliter samples, this work demonstrates 200 GHz single chip DNP microsystems where the microwave excitation/detection are performed locally on chip without the need of external microwave generators and transmission lines. The single chip integrated microsystems consist of a single or an array of microwave oscillators operating at about 200 GHz for ESR excitation/detection and an RF receiver operating at about 300 MHz for NMR detection. This work demonstrates the possibility of using the single chip approach for the realization of probes for DNP studies at high frequency, high field, and low temperature.

Nonlinear photonics on integrated platforms

Abstract Nonlinear photonics has unveiled new avenues for applications in metrology, spectroscopy, and optical communications. Recently, there has been a surge of interest in integrated platforms, attributed to their fundamental benefits, including compatibility with complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processes, reduced power consumption, compactness, and cost-effectiveness. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the key nonlinear effects and material properties utilized in integrated platforms. It discusses the applications and significant achievements in supercontinuum generation, a key nonlinear phenomenon. Additionally, the evolution of chip-based optical frequency combs is reviewed, highlighting recent pivotal works across four main categories. The paper also examines the recent advances in on-chip switching, computing, signal processing, microwave generation, and quantum applications. Finally, it provides perspectives on the development and challenges of nonlinear photonics in integrated platforms, offering insights into future directions for this rapidly evolving field.

Wideband finely tunable, ultralow-phase noise microwave generation in a Brillouin cavity.

A novel, to the best of our knowledge, approach to generate frequency-tunable microwave sources with low-phase-noise based on a Brillouin laser frequency comb is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The Brillouin laser frequency comb is generated by combining stimulated Brillouin scattering, frequency shifting optical injection locking, modulation sideband optical injection locking (MSOIL), and four-wave mixing effects. By beating the generated comb lines, the microwave is generated with an extremely low-level phase noise of -120 dBc/Hz at a 10-kHz offset. The frequency of the microwave signal can be finely tuned in steps of a Brillouin cavity mode spacing (i.e., 2 MHz) and coarsely adjusted to integer times the applied RF signal frequency in the MSOIL unit. Remarkably, the phase noise of the microwave source can be kept at almost the same low level during the whole tuning process over the frequency range of 30-75 GHz. The proposed tunable low-phase-noise microwave generation approach has great potential applications in communications, radars, and metrology.

Regulated DC Sources for Powering Magnetic Systems of Microwave Generators Based on Supercapacitor Storages

Regulated DC Sources for Powering Magnetic Systems of Microwave Generators Based on Supercapacitor Storages

Monolithic tunable dual-wavelength laser utilizing erbium-doped lithium niobate on an insulator.

We demonstrate a monolithic tunable dual-wavelength laser fabricated on erbium-doped lithium niobate on an insulator (Er:LNOI). The dual-wavelength laser enables independent tuning with a continuously linear electro-optic (EO)-modulated tuning range of 11.875 GHz at a tuning efficiency of 0.63 pm/V. Tunable microwave generation within 50 GHz with a maximum extinction ratio of 35 dB is experimentally demonstrated by further exploring the charge accumulation effect in LNOI. The monolithic design of this work paves the way for microscale integration of laser devices, presenting significant prospects in photonics research and applications.

Passively stabilized Brillouin fiber laser frequency combs for ultralow-noise microwave generation

Ultralow-noise microwaves are essential in a wide variety of scientific and technological applications, such as metrology, radars, and communications. Here, we propose and demonstrate a scheme for generating an ultralow-noise microwave signal using a Brillouin optical frequency comb (OFC), which is based on the stimulated Brillouin scattering in combination with a frequency-shifted optical injection locking mechanism. The generated two intra-cavity Brillouin lasers are used as the intra-cavity pump for the eventual formation of the OFC and thus the microwave signal via the cascaded four-wave mixing process. Exploiting the cascaded narrowing effect in the Brillouin cavity assisted by the frequency-shifted optical injection locking, the proposed microwave signal source exhibits ultralow phase noise. Experimental results show that the phase noise of the microwave signal is equivalent to below −115 dBc/Hz for a 200-GHz carrier at 10 kHz offset. The system can work in stable operation without the need for any active feedback loop.

Dynamic characteristics of a coaxial magnetic switch modulating pulse forming networks.

Pulsed power generators utilizing magnetic switch technology within the 100ns scale have become widespread for surface treatment, high power microwave generation, and food processing, in which the dynamic characteristics of the magnetic switch perform an important function. The saturation process, electric field between layers, and energy loss are closely associated with the applied time scale of the magnetic core, which affects the dynamic characteristics of the switch. However, compared with the study within the microsecond scale, the dynamic characteristics of magnetic switches within the 100ns scale have not been studied in depth. In this paper, the dynamic characteristics of a coaxial magnetic switch modulating pulse forming networks (PFNs) are studied via both field-loop co-simulation and scaled experimental test. It is found that increasing PFN section number (Ns) leads to an acceleration in the saturation process of the core, which helps understand the switch performance of the magnetic core more clearly. With respect to a specific magnetic switch based on a ferromagnetic core, it is quantitatively analyzed that increasing Ns from 1 to 10 leads to a 16.1% reduction in core saturation time (tsat), a 13.4% increase in eddy loss (EET), and a 5.7% rise in maximum interlamination field strength (Emax) under the 100ns scale; however, tsat is reduced by 19.3%, EET increases by 5.2%, and Emax rises by 2.3% under the microsecond scale. The results could provide a design reference for magnetic switches in pulsed power generators.

Characterization of Microwave Generator Energy and Ablation Volumes following Transarterial Embolization in an In Vivo Porcine Liver Model

PurposeTo characterize the relationship between ablation zone volume (AZV) and microwave ablation (MWA) energy in an in vivo porcine liver model following arterial embolization. Materials and MethodsWith Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval, 11 female swine underwent either right (n = 5) or left (n = 6) hepatic artery embolization under fluoroscopic guidance. Subsequently, ultrasound (US)-guided MWA was performed in each liver segment (left lateral, left medial, right medial, and right lateral) at either 30 W (n = 4 lobes), 60 W (n = 4), 65 W (n = 20), 90 W (n = 8), 120 W (n = 4), or 140 W (n = 4) continuously for 5 minutes. Postprocedural volumetric segmentation was performed on standardized multiphase T1 magnetic resonance (MR) imaging sequences. ResultsMean AZVs in embolized lobes (15.8 mL ± SD 10.6) were significantly larger than those in nonembolized lobes (11.2 mL ± SD 6.5, P < .01). MWA energy demonstrated significant positive linear correlation with both embolized (R2 = 0.66, P < .01) and nonembolized (R2 = 0.64, P < .01) lobes. The slope of the linear models corresponded to a 0.95 mL/kJ (SD ± 0.16) and 0.54 mL/kJ (SD ± 0.09) increase in ablation volume per applied kilojoule of energy (E) in embolized and nonembolized lobes, respectively. In the multivariate model, embolization status significantly modified the relationship between E and AZV as described by the following interaction term: 0.42∗E∗(embolization status) (P = .031). ConclusionsLinear models demonstrated a near 1.8-fold increase in ratio of AZV per unit E, R(AZV:E), when applied to embolized lobes relative to nonembolized lobes. Absolute AZV differences between embolized and nonembolized lobes were greater at higher-power MWA.

Influence of Nitrogen Doping in Vanadium- Compensated 4H-SiC on Transient Photocurrent Response for Photoconductive Microwave Generation

Influence of Nitrogen Doping in Vanadium- Compensated 4H-SiC on Transient Photocurrent Response for Photoconductive Microwave Generation

Anomalously Large Heat Generation of Hydration Water under Microwave Irradiation.

Much attention has been paid to the biological effects of microwave irradiation. The hydration water surrounding a biomolecule is crucial in its biological reactions and functions. Therefore, it is important to know the response of hydration water to microwaves to understand their biological effects; however, the scarcity of studies about it often leads to speculations and debates about that effect. In this study, we have made real-time temperature measurements of reverse micellar solutions with their water droplet size from ∼2.3 to ∼9.5 nm using a waveguide system combined with a microwave generator at 2.45 GHz. The heat generated by water in reverse micelles has been observed to depend on their size. It is about 10 times larger than that of liquid water at their small sizes (<∼3.5 nm) and diminishes with further enlarging the size, approaching the water's value at their large sizes (∼10 nm). These results indicate that the heat generation behavior has an interfacial effect; specifically, the hydration water on the surfactant layer produces heat 10 times larger than bulk water. Moreover, the hydration number per surfactant molecule decreases in a core-shell model with increasing the reverse micelle size. These features are also reflected in the heat generation rate. Our findings may offer a new and fundamental perspective for studies on the biological effects of microwave irradiation.

Modelling and characterization of time–frequency evolution dominated by stimulated Brillouin scattering in narrow-linewidth fiber oscillators

This paper mainly introduces several ways to suppress stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in a narrow-linewidth fiber oscillator and explains how the methods take effect. The experiments are designed to investigate the factors influencing SBS generation in oscillators. Experimental results demonstrate that higher output power, a high reflector (HR) with a narrower linewidth as well as injection of feedback all could help reduce SBS. A theoretical model of SBS-dominated time–frequency evolution in the oscillator is also constructed. Simulations reveal that SBS initially oscillates in the cavity and propagates forward outside the oscillator if the cavity gain is low. However, as the cavity gain increases sufficiently, the SBS would be eliminated through the selection of the output coupler (OC) FBG. Additionally, incorporating external feedback with a wider linewidth and steadier temporal characteristic as a boundary condition of simulation would result in stable ns-scale temporal sequence of the oscillator laser at low power. In fact, not only the stable state of the oscillator with feedback is helpful for SBS suppression but the chaotic state of the oscillator at low power provides a compact and simple structure for multi-order SBS generation which could be useful in multi-parameter sensing, tunable microwave generation and supercontinuum producing.

Ultra-broadband multi-tone frequency measurement based on the recirculating frequency shift of a frequency modulated continuous wave

We proposed an ultra-broadband multi-tone frequency measurement (FM) approach based on frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW). This work aims to achieve wide-range multi-tone FM without image interference, using electrical components with narrow bandwidth and low sampling rate, while maintaining high FM accuracy. The FM range is largely increased by extending the bandwidth of the optical FMCW through a recirculating frequency shift (RFS) loop, from 0.001 GHz-16 GHz to 0.001 GHz-437.5 GHz. The bandwidth-extended optical FMCW coherently beats with a continuous wave (CW) light modulated by the signal under test (SUT) at the balanced photodetector (BPD). The following low-pass filter (LPF) outputs pulses at the time when the frequencies of FMCW and SUT are equal, constructing frequency-to-time mapping (FTTM). Owing to the zero-intermediate-frequency (zero-IF) architecture, image interference is avoided. In addition, the up- and down-chirps of FMCW are used to achieve self-reference, avoiding the utilizing of reference signals, which realizes high FM accuracy. In the experiment, a FM within 0.1 GHz-43.5 GHz is demonstrated using an available microwave generator (MG) with a maximum output frequency of 43.5 GHz. The FM errors are kept within ±10 MHz for all frequencies with a mean and standard deviation of −0.3 MHz and 3.17 MHz, respectively. The multi-tone resolution is about 60 MHz at the FMCW chirp rate of 3.1998 GHz/μs, which is consistent with the theoretical result. According to the theoretical derivation, the multi-tone resolution can be improved to 1 MHz by lowering the FMCW chirp rate.

NV color center fluorescence signal measurement based on FPGA architecture

Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) quantum defects in diamond are sensitive detectors of magnetic fields. Then, the existing sensing technologies based on diamond NV centers rely on bulky and expensive instruments, which must be replaced by a more compact design. Here we combine NV quantum sensing technology with integrated circuit technology to create a compact and easy-to-operate platform. Using the existing integrated circuit technology, we integrate the lock-in amplifier, microwave generator and TTL modulator together. with this platform, we can obtain a magnetic sensitivity of 5.72μT/Hz 1/2.