New method for producing and mounting barretter elements for power measurement in waveguides

The manufacture of high-efficiency barretters for millimetre-wave frequencies is difficult because of the small dimensions involved. The letter describes a barretter element employing Wollaston wire and constructed on a thin mica substrate which at 35 GHz gives a good performance in terms of efficiency, sensitivity and stability. The technique is applicable at least up to W-band and is ths subject of a provisional patent application.