Towards Sealed, High Repetition Rate High Power Radio Frequency Devices
Abstract
In the quest to reduce the size weight and power requirements for deployable Directed Energy systems, UNM has made advances in insulator technologies and plans to expand into other system inefficiencies. Electrical breakdown by surface flashover is the single most prevalent failure mechanism in components and systems at high voltages and affects industries from highdensity power electronics to directed energy weapons. It profoundly affects system reliability and the mitigation technique of increased distance results in increased size, weight and power (SWaP). UNM is developing a ceramic-based high gradient insulator technology to increase the initiation of surface flashover in vacuum. Through careful examination of the predominant theory of the development of surface flashover, we have identified an interesting competition between material properties and surface flashover: the tendency to outgas in a strong vacuum and the characteristic secondary electron emission (SEE) yield under electron bombardment. For both the development of new, lightweight polymer-like and high gradient geometry insulators, the outgassing needs to be quantified with the requested residual gas analyzer. The requested turbopump replaces a unit we were loaned by the Air Force Research laboratory for vacuum flashover fixture we developed and are currently using. We are also evaluating the effect of surface shape on flashover with the use of additive manufacturing where novel shapes can be explored inexpensively. High voltage, fast charging rate power supplies are requested to explore where the observed limits to achieving pulse repetition rate originate. High repetition rates and fast risetimes result in large electromagnetic interference signals which destroy signal integrity. The requested equipment is essential to advance the state of the art in overall system efficiency
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 11, 2020
- Source ID
- N000142012839
Entities
People
- Jane M Lehr
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of New Mexico