Solid State Ultra-Wideband Microwave Source

The objective of the project is the construction, demonstration and commercialization of a 100kV UWB microwave source. The source will have a nominal center frequency of approximately 1 GHz, an operating range (RF bandwidth) from approximately 500MHz to 2 GHz and will have a rep rate of at least 2 kHz. The technical approach relies on careful triggering of a large number of smaller pulsers such that the generated pulses radiate and coherently combine to produce a single large pulse in the far field. The synchronization board that produces the timing signals will be able to generate arbitrarily timed trigger signals with a resolution of three pico-seconds and an RMS accuracy of seven pico-seconds. As a side benefit, the system will also be able to act as an electronically steer-able phased array. Prospective applications include: individual pulsers for use for Through Wall Sensor or Ground Penetrating Radars; FOPEN and Ground Penetrating radars for UAVs; traditional radar systems; and disruption devices.