Plasma Limiter: A Radio Frequency Mitigation Device for Missile Defense Electronics

The widespread use of communication devices and radar systems has made our society increasingly vulnerable to disruptive high-power, short-pulse electromagnetic interference (EMI) and high power microwaves (HPM). Significant advances in devices thatproduce these high-power, short pulses have been made in the US and abroad in the past few decades. As a result, the need for devices that can protect sensitive communications equipment from such devices is greater than ever. The plasma limiter devicebeing developed in this program has the potential to be the most effective transient suppression device available. The primary objective of the proposed Phase II program is the development of a large-scale plasma limiter that can reflect up to 10 kW ofX-band RF power in a response time less than 1 nsec. The device will be implemented in both rectangular waveguide (such as WR90) and stripline packaging. Usage of the limiter will be aimed at front-end protection. An additional specification of the devicewill be low insertion loss, < 0.1 dB.