Ferroelectric Switch for a High-Power Ka-Band Active Pulse Compressor

78276S Sources of high-peak-power millimeter-wave radiation are needed for development and testing of components and structures for a future multi-TeV electron-positron collider. A pulse compressor must generate the 200 MW pulses needed to develop structures for the CERN two-beam accelerator, or for a similar high-gradient millimeter-wave accelerator. This project will develop high-power switches, using ferroelectric rings as active elements, for a dual-mode, dual-delay-line, Ka-band active pulse compressor operating at 34.3 GHz. In this way, powers of the order of 200 MW in 100 nsec wide pulses can be generated. In Phase I, the switches will be designed and optimized, based on properties of available ferroelectrics. A sample ferroelectric ring with appropriate dimensions will be fabricated, and investigations will be undertaken to develop a ferroelectric material with a relatively low dielectric constant of about 300 for a simplified design. Plans will be developed for fabrication and testing during Phase II. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The availability of a high-power Ka-band switch could open up important markets for radio frequency test stands for accelerator technology, for advanced radars, and for communications.