Frequency/phase agile microwave circuits on ferroelectric films

This work describes novel microwave circuits that can be tuned in either frequency or phase through the use of nonlinear dielectrics, specifically thin ferroelectric films. These frequency and phase agile circuits in many cases provide a new capability or offer the potential for lower cost alternatives in satellite and terrestrial communications and sensor applications. A brief introduction to nonlinear dielectrics and a summary of some of the special challenges confronting the practical insertion of ferroelectric technology into commercial systems is provided. A theoretical solution for the propagation characteristics of the multi-layer structures, with emphasis on a new type of phase shifter based on coupled microstrip, lines, is developed. The quasi-TEM analysis is based on a variational solution for line capacitance and an extension of coupled transmission line theory. It is shown that the theoretical model is applicable to a broad class of multi-layer transmission lines. The critical role that ferroelectric film thickness plays in loss and phase-shift is closely examined.;Experimental data for both thin film BaxSr1-xTiO 3 phase shifters near room temperature and SMO3 phase shifters at cryogenic temperatures on MgO and LaAlO3 substrates is included. Some of these devices demonstrated an insertion loss of less than 5 dB at Ku-band with continuously variable phase shift in excess of 360 degrees. The performance of these devices is superior to the state-of-the-art semiconductor counterparts.;Frequency and phase agile antenna prototypes including a microstrip patch that can operate at multiple microwave frequency bands and a new type of phased array antenna concept called the ferroelectric reflectarray are introduced. Modeled data for tunable microstrip patch antennas is presented for various ferroelectric film thickness. A prototype linear phased array, with a conventional beam-forming manifold, and an electronic controller is described. This is the first demonstration of a scanning phased array antenna based on thin ferroelectric films at K-band. Preliminary results for a Ku-band spiral and integral balun are included as well because of its potential to realize another type of reflectarray.;Finally, tunable microstrip ring resonators and a cryogenic Ku-band frequency agile oscillator based on SrTiO3 films are described. The voltage-controlled oscillator demonstrated a tuning range of more than 3% around 16 GHz. This is the first electronically tunable Ku-band oscillator demonstrated with thin ferroelectric films.