High‐Power Considerations in Microwave Filter Networks

This chapter presents an overview of high‐power considerations for microwave filters and multiplexing networks in terrestrial and space applications. It reviews the phenomenon of breakdown and then describes in more detail the practical considerations in the design of highpower filter networks. The chapter also reviews the gas discharge phenomenon at microwave frequencies, and the impact on the design of high‐power passive microwave components. A number of constraints are essential to initiate and sustain multipaction discharge. The violation of any of those constraints should, therefore, provide the means to suppress multipaction. Possible ways to prevent the occurrence of this phenomenon are enumerated as follows: control of the frequency‐gap product; dielectric filling; pressurization; magnetic or dc bias; and reduction of the surface potential by treatment of materials. The chapter further tabulates the characteristics and relative advantages of these methods.