EXPERIMENTAL 6-GHZ FROZEN WAVE GENERATOR WITH FIBEROPTIC FEED

Experimental results from an optically activated 6 GHz frozen wave gen erator (FWG) test device are presented, The several system components needed to produce a low-cost monolithic pulsed power source suitable f or large phased arrays are demonstrated, Static electric energy stored in 50 ohm microstrip transmission lines is released by fast GaAs phot oconductive (PC) switches activated by 50 picosecond laser pulses dist ributed over fiber-optics, The present device is of hybrid constructio n, using commercial fiber-optic pigtailed integrated optic couplers an d semi-insulating (SI) GaAs metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photocondu ctive switch chips bonded into microstrip, However, exclusive of the l aser, the design lends itself to monolithic microwave and integrated o ptic techniques especially at high frequencies, Experimental test resu lts compare well with circuit simulation predictions, showing that hyb rid techniques introduce negligible parasitics at the design frequency , Lower resistance PC switches are needed to fully demonstrate the hig h power performance capabilities of this type of device.