Development of a solid-state broadband millimeter wave power combiner
Abstract
High Power Microwave Engineering Laboratory of the Kwangwoon University proposes the development of a highly efficient, broadband millimeter wave (30 GHz to 110 GHz), N-way power combiner.Previous experience and knowledge that we have acquired on 80-way, all solid-state power combining system, producing 200 kW at 466 MHz with a power combining efficiency of more than 95 % are the essential asset for us to perform research work on the proposed millimeter wave power combiner. As a continuing effort on developing a power combining system, we propose novel passive and active power combiners operating at millimeter wave frequency up to 110 GHz which has not previously been exploited in any other institutes.Research on developing the proposed millimeter wave power combiner are categorized in three parts: (1) theoretical and numerical analysis of N-way power combiner, (2) fabrication and experimental demonstration of the N-way power combiner as an amplifier configuration, and (3) demonstration of N-way power oscillator using a delayed line feedback loop with low phase noise.An N-way millimeter wave power combiner operating from 30 GHz to 110 GHz will be designed by theoretical analysis of electromagnetic wave propagation and coupling into the combining structure. Based on thorough theoretical and numerical investigation by using impedance matching and mode analysis in the cavity and waveguide, a prototype of a N-way power combiner will be fabricated and be tested to verify the design concept. The key design features of the proposed power combiner are a broadband capability and high combining efficiency with low internal loss. The power combiner will be designed to operate as both an amplifier and an oscillator. The N-way power combined oscillator has advantages on low cost and compact size. Differently from the amplifier configuration, however, the oscillator by itself produces a high sideband frequency spectral spread, associated with phase noise in frequency domain and jittering in time-domain. Theoretical analysis of the feedback loop is required to achieve a stable oscillation in the N-way power combined structure. Electronic circuits for reducing frequency and phase noises will be investigated so that the oscillator generates a highly stabilized output power with low sideband noises.The proposed N-way power combiner has many technical challenges such as extending frequency bandwidth and high combining efficiency at the sub-THz frequency range which have never been reported earlier in other institutes. The unique characteristic of an innovative power combiner is that the power combiner can run as both an amplifier and an oscillator. It is compact and extremely low loss, making it possible to obtain an unmatchable power combining efficiency of more than 95 %. The proposed highly efficient power combiner will provide the key breakthroughs needed to advance hundreds of watts power level, all solid state power combining technology in the sub-THz frequency range.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 11, 2020
- Source ID
- N000142012056
Entities
People
- Jin Joo Choi
Organizations
- Kwangwoon University
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy