Experimental Verification of Multipactor Suppression in Microstripline Using High Porosity Surfaces

We report computational and experimental research results confirming that surfaces with porosity exceeding a certain threshold will fully suppress multipactor in parallel-plate microstripline structures, while negligibly perturbing the RF transmission properties. Our research also identified a practical arrangement of nonuniform pores that provided the required high-porosity for multipactor suppression, but with enhanced mechanical rigidity. This alternative layout facilitates the fabrication process using commercially-available manufacturing methods. Porous, multipactor-resistant surfaces can be used in a wide range of high-power components including high-power microwave sources, antennas, filters, and transmission lines (TLs).