A TUNABLE MICROWAVE SIGNAL GENERATOR USING MAGNETOSTATIC SURFACE-WAVEMODULATION INSTABILITY

A type of tunable microwave signal generator is described that utilize s the sideband induced by the modulation instability of magnetostatic surface waves propagating in yttrium iron garnet (YIG) films. Using an epitaxial 28-mu m-thick and 0.4-cm-wide YIG film and a pair of identi cal 50-mu m-wide microstrip transducers in a delay-line configuration, S-band signals are generated. The generated microwave frequency is tu nable by adjustment of external biasing magnetic field. The determinat ion of the device bandwidth is introduced. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.