Demonstration of the frequency upshifting of microwave radiation by rapid plasma creation

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/27.62347· OSTI ID:6478405

Joshi, C J; Clayton, C E; Marsh, K ^[1]; Hopkins, D B; Sessler, A; Whittum, D ^[2]

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1. California Univ., Los Angeles, CA (USA). Dept. of Electrical Engineering
2. Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)

A new technique for frequency-upshifting electromagnetic radiation is demonstrated. By ionizing azulene vapor contained in a resonant cavity using a laser pulse, the frequency of the incident RF wave at 33.3 GHz is upshifted by 5% with greater than 10% efficiency. Maximum frequency upshift of 2.3 times the source frequency is observed. There are two mechanisms thought to be operative in producing the observed frequency upshift: The time-dependent dielectric constant due to increasing plasma density, and rapid {ital Q}-switching of the cavity. This technique has the potential of being able to generate tunable and chirped radiation over a very broad ({Delta}{ital f/f} {approx gt} 1) frequency range.

• DOE Contract Number: FG03-87ER13752
• OSTI ID: 6478405
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (USA), Vol. 18:5; ISSN 0093-3813
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
42 ENGINEERING
MICROWAVE RADIATION
PLASMA PRODUCTION
CAVITY RESONATORS
FREQUENCY MODULATION
LASER RADIATION
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
PULSE GENERATORS
Q-SWITCHING
RF SYSTEMS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FUNCTION GENERATORS
MODULATION
PLASMA
RADIATIONS
RESONATORS
700101* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Confinement
Heating
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426002 - Engineering- Lasers & Masers- (1990-)