X-Band High-Power Multipactor Receiver Protector

High vacuum devices incorporating the secondary electron resonance phenomenon have been used for several years in receiver protection circuits for high-power high-pulse repetition frequency (PRF) RADARs. These are known as multipactor devices. Recent technological developments have increased the peak-power handling capability and bandwidth of airborne-qualified devices to 50 kW and 12.5 percent respectively. Life tests on multipactor devices have demonstrated 2500 h of failure free operation.