High-Power Plasma Switch for 11.4 GHZ Microwave
Pulse Compressor--Omega-P, Inc., 202008 Yale Station, Suite 100, New Haven, CT
06520; 203-458-1144
Dr. Jay L. Hirshfield, Principal Investigator, jay@omega-p.com
Mr. George P. Trahan, Business Official, trahan@omega-p.com
DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-01ER83236
Amount: $100,000
Continued
progress in high-energy physics demands a new generation collider, which in turn
requires a new high-power, high-efficiency radio frequency source.
The high peak power that is required can only be generated by using a
pulse compressor. This project will
develop a plasma switch for use with an 11.4 GHz, 0.5 GW peak power active pulse
compressor, together with microwave circuits capable of storing and releasing
the large energy pulses required. Although
plasma switches with low-pressure gas fill have been successfully designed for
X-band active microwave pulse compressors at peak power levels up to about 100
MW, a new switch design using high-pressure fill gas will be needed to extend
operation up to about 0.5 GW. Phase
I will design and test a prototype plasma switch with a high-pressure fill gas
discharge tube, wherein a high-voltage pulse generator produces a seed plasma
for the reliable breakdown of the discharge tube in intense pulsed microwave
fields. Tests at the 100 kW level
will be carried out with a non-high-vacuum version of active Bragg pulse
compressors using both TE-01 and TE-02 mode storage cavities. The power gain and
phase characteristics of the compressed pulse will be measured.
Commercial
Applications and Other Benefits as described by awardee: In a future linear collider, several thousand
high-power, high-efficiency microwave sources will be required.
The adaption of active pulse compressors for use with the sources would
represent a potential $50 million business opportunity.
Active pulse compressors may allow savings over more conventional passive
compressors since a high power compression ratio can be obtained using shorter
waveguide storage elements.