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Generation of ultrashort, discrete spectrum microwave pulses using the dc to ac radiation converter

Journal Article · · Applied Physics Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.120633· OSTI ID:565571
; ; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089 (United States)
  2. University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095 (United States)

The output radiation of a dc to ac radiation converter is characterized. A relativistic ionization front passing through a capacitor array of period d=1 cm produces short pulses of tunable radiation between 39 and 84 GHz with a gas pressure between 0 and 30 mT. The frequency spectra of the produced pulses are discrete and exhibit full widths at half maximum between 12{percent} and 28{percent}, consistent with the expected width for six cycles{close_quote} pulses. An upper bound of 750 ps (detection bandwidth limited) is placed on the pulse widths. These are the shortest pulses produced by a source of coherent radiation in this frequency range. {copyright} {ital 1998 American Institute of Physics.}

OSTI ID:
565571
Journal Information:
Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 72; ISSN APPLAB; ISSN 0003-6951
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English