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Method and apparatus for stabilizing pulsed microwave amplifiers

Patent ·
OSTI ID:868645

Phase and amplitude variations at the output of a high power pulsed microwave amplifier arising from instabilities of the driving electron beam are suppressed with a feed-forward system that can stabilize pulses which are too brief for regulation by conventional feedback techniques. Such variations tend to be similar during successive pulses. The variations are detected during each pulse by comparing the amplifier output with the low power input signal to obtain phase and amplitude error signals. This enables storage of phase and amplitude correction signals which are used to make compensating changes in the low power input signal during the following amplifier output pulse which suppress the variations. In the preferred form of the invention, successive increments of the correction signals for each pulse are stored in separate channels of a multi-channel storage. Sequential readout of the increments during the next pulse provides variable control voltages to a voltage controlled phase shifter and voltage controlled amplitude modulator in the amplifier input signal path.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
Assignee:
Regents of University of Calif. (Oakland, CA)
Patent Number(s):
US 5182524
OSTI ID:
868645
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English