Development of a diamond RF switch for a pulse compression system

Summary form only given. We present a proof of principle result of an optically controlled diamond RF switch that call be used for high power RF compression systems. The switch is based on the excitation of a plasma layer within a CVD diamond wafer by a laser beam. HFSS simulations were carried out for the design of a TE/sub 10/ and TE/sub 01/ mode diamond switch. Diamond windows made from 200 /spl mu/m thick CVD diamond were designed and built for an 11.424 GHz, 10 W microwave system. A Nd:YAG laser with wavelengths of 535 nm, 355 nm and 266 nm was used to activate the CVD diamond wafer. It was observed that 38% of input microwave power was reflected when the CVD diamond window was activated by a 10 ns, 266 nm laser pulse. The details of the window design, experimental results and possible methodology for increasing reflection efficiency and pulse width of the reflected signal will be reported.