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Title: High-Power Plasma Switch for 11.4 GHz Microwave Pulse Compressor

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/972909· OSTI ID:972909

Results obtained in several experiments on active RF pulse compression at X-band using a magnicon as the high-power RF source are presented. In these experiments, microwave energy was stored in high-Q TE01 and TE02 modes of two parallel-fed resonators, and then discharged using switches activated with rapidly fired plasma discharge tubes. Designs and high-power tests of several versions of the compressor are described. In these experiments, coherent pulse superposition was demonstrated at a 5–9 MW level of incident power. The compressed pulses observed had powers of 50–70 MW and durations of 40–70 ns. Peak power gains were measured to be in the range of 7:1–11:1 with efficiency in the range of 50–63%.

Research Organization:
Omega-P, Inc.
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
DOE Contract Number:
FG02-01ER83236
OSTI ID:
972909
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/83236; TRN: US1003106
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English