Claims
- 1. An RF-primed high power halogen vial apparatus as a radar receiver protector comprising in combination:
- a housng member containing a first and second cylindrical guide, said first cylindrical guide being longitudinally aligned with said second cylindrical guide; said second cylindrical guide being in alignment with the input waveguide to said radar receiver,
- a vial means positioned within said second cylindrical guide with a small portion extending into said first cylindrical guide, said vial means containing a low pressure gas,
- a tuning iris formed in said second cylindrical guide, said tuning iris being substantially centered with respect to said vial means, and
- an RF priming means operatively connected to said first cylindrical guide, said RF priming means applying an RF priming signal into said first cylindrical guide by means of a single electrode which is positioned within said first cylindrical guide external to and not in contact with said vial means, said first cylindrical guide propagating said RF priming signal into said vial means to ionize the gas therein and create a weakly-ionized plasma, said plasma providing a source of free electrons to provide a stable breakdown upon receipt of a high microwave signal.
- 2. An RF-primed high power halogen vial apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said vial means comprises a circular quartz vial whose dielectric constant, in cooperation with the diameter of said second cylindrical guide, prevents the propagation of said RF primary signal therefrom.
- 3. An RF-primed high power halogen vial apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said low pressure gas comprises a gas from the halogen group.
- 4. An RF-primed high power halogen vial apparatus as described in claim 3 including a few microcuries of promethium 147 inserted into said small portion of said vial means that extends into said first cylindrical guide, said promethium 147 enhancing the starting characteristics of said RF priming signal.
- 5. An RF-primed high power halogen vial apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said first cylindrical guide has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of said second cylindrical guide.
- 6. An RF-primed high power halogen vial apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said RF priming signal has a power strength of approximately five watts CW.
- 7. An RF-primed high power halogen vial apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said RF priming signal has a predetermined frequency such that it will propagate into and through said first cylindrical guide but not through or out of said second cylindrical guide.
STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST
The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty thereon.
US Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
3644779 |
Goldie |
Feb 1972 |
|
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
519922 |
Dec 1955 |
CAX |