Integrating Sphere at Microwave Frequencies

To meet the demands of AF182-036 SBIR solicitation (“Integrating Sphere at Microwave Frequenciesâ€Â), MaXentric is proposing DYSON (Diffusive (Y)Integrating Sphere for Output aggregatioN). DYSON is a microwave integrating sphere consists of partial spherical segments, each 3-D printed to provide randomized scattering over a broad range of frequencies. DYSON’s unique and novel design mixes the spherical modes of the cavity to provide a maximum coupling among them, ensuring all radiation emitted into any of the modes is collected by the detector with minimum number of bounces, resulting in low dispersion. DYSON’s wide bandwidth (at least 10:1), scalable frequency range, and reasonable form factor makes it a viable instrument for use at microwave frequencies. During Phase I work, MaXentric analyzed, designed and fabricated a 1/8 sphere section, with measurements demonstrating functional feasibility. Scalability in size and frequency operation showed performance over a 10:1 bandwidth, in the range of several 10s of GHz frequency, with approximately ten wavelengths in diameter. In Phase II, the high-power DYSON technology will be scaled and fabricated to operate as low as L-band, over more than one decade of bandwidth. A high frequency replica will be fabricate for risk reduction as well as transition opportunities for industry applications.