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Reduced Height Waveguide Limiter Using Nanotube Technology

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Defense 		Branch:
Missile Defense Agency 		Award ID:
86460 		Program Year/Program:
2008 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
B073-035-0155 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
Accurate Automation Corporation
7001 Shallowford Road Chattanooga, TN -
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2008
Title: Reduced Height Waveguide Limiter Using Nanotube Technology
Agency / Branch: DOD / MDA
Contract: HQ0006-08-C-7802
Award Amount: $99,997.00
 

Abstract:

The solid state semiconductor technology in radar systems supporting the U. S. Army's ballistic missile defense program increases its vulnerability to the effects of high power, fast rise-time EMP, HPM, and UWB pulses. Recent research has shown that using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can greatly improve the performance of a limiter. Improvements upon a previous X-band waveguide plasma limiter can be made by utilizing arrays of CNTs in a reduced height waveguide. This configuration offers several advantages over the current device. First, the CNTs offer greater field enhancement and survivability compared to metallic point electrodes, resulting in a faster reaction time, lower spike leakage, and greater reliability. Second, the reduced height waveguide will increase the electric field across the spark gap, which will also decrease the reaction time and reduce the spike leakage. Third, the use of CNT arrays allows the field enhancing electrodes to be present over the entire width of the waveguide on both of the H-plane surfaces without introducing significant insertion loss, leading to a reduction in flat leakage. Using a CNT array as a field enhancing electrode in a plasma limiter promises to offer faster reaction time, higher power handling capability, and greater reliability than existing systems.

Principal Investigator:

Benjamin Simmons
Principal Investigator
4238944646
bsimmons@accurate-automation.com

Business Contact:

Reba L. Pap
CEO
4238944646
rpap@accurate-automation.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

ACCURATE AUTOMATION CORP.
7001 Shallowford Road Chattanooga, TN 37421

EIN/Tax ID: 621371359
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No