A novel all-metal tightly coupled array for high-power microwave applications

Abstract This paper presents a novel tightly coupled array (TCA) for high-power microwave (HPM) applications. The proposed TCA incorporates a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) radome that ensures impedance matching of the elements while providing a sealed enclosure for the array. By employing an all-metal structure, sealing the array and filling it with sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6 ) gas, and optimizing the electric field distribution, the power handling capacity (PHC) of the TCA is significantly enhanced. Furthermore, a novel approach employing four shorting posts is introduced to suppress common-mode resonance. The calculated PHC values are 232.65 MW m −2 , 240.82 MW m −2 , and 142.86 MW m −2 at broadside and when scanning in the E-plane at 30° and 60°, respectively. A prototype array consisting of 8 × 10 elements was simulated, fabricated, and measured. The active voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of the element in an infinite array remains below 2 over the operational bandwidth of 0.84 to 3.13 GHz. The array is capable of scanning up to 60° in the E-plane. The measured results show good agreement with the simulation results. The PHC of this TCA is compatible with current all-solid-state HPM sources, making it suitable for anti-drone applications.