SBIR-STTR Award

The purpose of this project is to design a low cost pulser that can produce a 100kV pulse with a continuous repetition rate of 2kHz. The objective device will have the size, mass and reliability to be compatible with use in aircraft. In contrast, current pulsers tend to be bulky, expensive, have limited lifetimes, and require substantial cooling systems. Time Domain Corporation (TDC) intends to use Drift Step Recovery Diodes and Transistors, a novel semiconductor technology, to produce the required pulses. TDC will also investigate coherent addition of pulses and the use of Silicon Carbide for key components. Experience to date indicates the objective is feasible and can be accomplished by making a single large device or by coherently summing the outputs of smaller devices.

Keywords:
ELECTROMAGNETICS, PULSED POWER, DRIFT STEP RECOVERY DIODES, COHERENT SIGNALING, TRIGGERED SWITCH, HIGH VOLTAGE, TRANSIENT, ULTRA-WIDEBAND

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.

Keywords:
Ultra-Wideband, High Power Uwb Pulsers, Phased Arrays, Coherent Combination, Coherence, Disruption, Radar, Pico-Second Synchronization