Analysis of waveform generation utilizing striplines and photoconductive switches

Abstract

Generation of waveforms utilizing photoconductive switches and striplines has been analyzed for three circuit categories; parallel switching circuits, series switching circuits and passive waveform shaping circuits. The first two circuits utilize multiple switches to synthesize a waveform whereas the latter circuit contains a single switch in conjunction with a passive stripline circuit to generate a waveform. The properties of real switches impose practical limitations on these circuits which, in some cases, can be severe.

<title>Tunable photoconductive switch-based microwave source</title>

“…In terms of the voltage, V, the current, I, and the impedance, Z, the right and left (up and down for the stub) wave amplitudes are (1) and (2) Using the suffix 1 to denote the charge section, 2 for the stub and 3 for the output allows the boundary condition equations to be written: …”

“…The ability to vary the center frequency and bandwidth of the output pulse is of particular interest. Prior efforts by ourselves [1] and others [2] to generate arbitrary waveforms has met with some degree of success. In this paper we extend our prior efforts to the analysis and demonstration of a relatively simple circuit that allows a surprising degree of control over the output waveform.…”