GaAs SAMP Device for Ku-Band Switching

Switchable attenuating medium propagation (SAMP) devices are coplanar transmission lines on an epitaxial semiconductor (GaAs) substrate. These transmission lines can be switched rapidly between states of high and low attenuation by controlling the width of a depletion layer under the center conductor. SAMP devices can easily be characterized by the use of transmission line theory. They are well suited for use in monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMIC's). Experimental performance data and theoretical background will be presented.