Microwave Magnetics and Considerations for Systems Design

Abstract

The adoption of non-linear magnetic devices in Radio Frequency (RF) systems has been relatively slow due to their unique characteristics that do not lend themselves well to traditional design tools and methodologies. Herein we present the practical considerations in employing such devices in modern RF system design with an emphasis on realizable improvements in performance and adaptability in addition to the common design methodology that has been adopted to account for their unique behavior. Specifically, this article begins by presenting how a standalone nonlinear device such as a Frequency Selective Limiter (FSL) can enable a higher-level subsystem such as the Frequency Selective Canceller (FSC). This discussion sheds light on the importance of characterizing the behavior of an FSL and how this behavior is different from other, more traditional RF components such as a Pin Diode Limiter, as explained in the second part of the article. Lastly, a Magnetostatic Wave (MSW) delay line that leverages the recent advancements in non-linear magnetic device design is introduced in order to provide an attractive alternative to traditional delay lines. A more complete understanding of system-level performance benefits and device-level functionality will undoubtedly facilitate the widescale deployment of nonlinear magnetic devices to help mitigate spectrum congestion challenges faced by modern and future RF systems.INDEX TERMS Frequency selective limiter, analog signal processing, magnetostatic surface waves, receiver front-end, linearization techniques, delay lines.

The Field of Microwave Magnetics [From the Guest Editor’s Desk]

“…Seven decades after these initial developments, a relatively small but dedicated community within the MTT-S continues to advance and develop these types of technologies that supplement and complement recent promising efforts to use parametric switching to realize nonreciprocal circuit responses [7]. This work is driven by desires for improved interference mitigation and simultaneous transmit and receive [8]; miniaturized and tunable passives and sensors [9], [10]; and integration with other technologies, such as integrated circuits and antennas [11]. At the same time, improvements in material synthesis and integration techniques have enabled devices that operate at higher frequencies and allow integration with electronics [12], [13].…”

Coupled Micromachined Magnetic Resonators for Microwave Signal Processing

“…Recent advances in microwave magnetics encompass novel materials and nanostructures for miniaturized magnetically tuneable devices in the microwave range and for magnonic and spintronic applications [15][16][17][18][19].…”

Controlling Selection Rules for Magnon Scattering in Nanomagnets by Spatial Symmetry Breaking

“…This results in nonlinearity although most magnetic interactions (exchange, dipolar, uniaxial anisotropy, Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction) are quadratic functions of the magnetization M . Nonlinear processes can thus be observed at relatively low excitation levels and exploited in applications -in particular in microwave electronics [4,12,13], analog and digital signal processing [14][15][16], non-Boolean computing such as magnetic neuromorphics [17,18] and quantum information systems [19][20][21].…”