Video Detection of Millimeter Waves with Glow Discharge Tubes. Part I. Physical Description. Part II. Experimental Results.

摘要

An experimental program was undertaken with the goal of realizing a fast, inexpensive millimeter wave glow discharge video detector. The work performed led to the realization of an economical commercial flow tube that, when biased properly, exhibits a sensitivity quite comparable to that of the crystal diode detector. As a result of this work, an anomalous mode plus a new mode of detection utilizing a sensing electrode external to the glow tube, with considerable improvement in NEP, were observed. In this paper, Part 1 describes the detection mechanism and physical characteristics of a glow discharge found to be important in the detection of millimeter waves and Part 2 the results of experiments concerning effects of biasing and gas type and pressure upon sensitivity. (Author)