Nanodielectrics with Nonlinear Response for High Power Microwave Generation

The proposed barium strontium titanate (BST) nanodielectric devices will combine some of the best features of bulk and thin-film based tunable dielectrics: low microwave losses, high tunability at high fields, the potential for low operating voltages, and less temperature dependent dielectric response. The miniaturization of devices and reduction of insertion losses requires developments of materials with high dielectric constant (>1000) and low dielectric loss (10 MW) with tunable and selectable operational frequency range. To achieve tunability, high dielectric constant low dielectric loss, and high insulation resistance, we propose to develop nanoscale (BaxSr1-x)TiO3 (BST) based bulk nonlinear microwave components. If higher electric breakdown fields can be achieved in bulk materials through nanocrystalline ceramic engineering, then high tunability will become a reality for high power devices.