Photoconductive semiconductor switches used for ultrawideband, high-power microwave generation

Jeffrey W. Burger, J. S.H. Schoenberg, J. Scott Tyo, Jon P. Hull, Michael D. Abdalla, Sean M. Ahern, Mike C. Skipper, Walter R. Buchwald

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Air Force Phillips Laboratory, in collaboration with the Army Research Laboratory, is developing lateral geometry, high-power photoconductive semiconductor switches (PCSS) for use in phased-array, ultra-wideband sources. The current switch utilizes an opposed contact geometry with a 0.25 cm gap spacing and is an extension of previous work on 1.0 cm PCSS devices. This work presents the development and demonstration of the 0.25 cm PCSS under both ideal laboratory conditions and potential source conditions. The laboratory configuration consists of two high-bandwidth transmission lines connected with a PCSS. The potential source configuration consists of a vector-inversion pulse generator (Blumlein) commuted with a PCSS. The 0.25 cm PCSS is shown to operate at 20 kV charge voltage, 65 ps rms switching jitter, less than 450 ps risetime and greater than 1 kHz pulse repetition rate when triggered using a compact, high-power laser diode.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)65-71
Number of pages7
JournalProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume3158
DOIs
StatePublished - 1997
EventIntense Microwave Pulses V - San Diego, CA, United States
Duration: Jul 31 1997Jul 31 1997

Keywords

  • Blumlein
  • GaAs
  • HPM
  • Lock-on
  • Microwave
  • PCSS
  • Photoconductive
  • Source
  • Switch
  • UWB

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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