Open AccessNon‐linear characteristics of an optically reconfigurable microwave switch
Author(s) -
Pang Alexander W.,
Bensmida Souheil,
Gamlath Chris D.,
Cryan Martin J.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
iet microwaves, antennas and propagation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.555
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1751-8733
pISSN - 1751-8725
DOI - 10.1049/iet-map.2017.0572
Subject(s) - materials science , microwave , linearity , silicon , substrate (aquarium) , optoelectronics , power (physics) , return loss , optics , electronic engineering , electrical engineering , physics , engineering , telecommunications , antenna (radio) , oceanography , quantum mechanics , geology
A novel, high‐power optically controlled microwave switch is presented. The switch uses integrated illumination of a silicon superstate through a low‐loss glass substrate which reduces losses related to the plasma conductivity tail in the silicon. Numerical electromagnetic modelling is used to design the switch and good agreement between measured and simulated results has been achieved. The switch is then characterised using a two‐tone non‐linearity test at 2 GHz and a third‐order intercept point of +72 dBm is obtained with 10 W per tone.