P1–25: CW microwave radiation source from Micro-Hollow Cathode plasma Discharge

A continuous-wave microwave radiation source is under investigation using Micro-Hollow Cathode Discharge (MHCD) technology. Arrays of grooves, 50 microns in diameter and ~3 mm long have been fabricated to contain the plasma discharge. Argon discharge in the resonance cavity has been observed at atmospheric pressure. The turn-on voltage was observed to be 400V (383μA). Lowering the voltage to 310V (~100μA) extinguished the plasma. Increasing the applied voltage to 400V (430μA), a broad-spectrum radiation with center frequency at 131MHz was measured.