Bistable Photoconductive Switches Particularly Suited for Frequency-Agile Radio-Frequency Sources

摘要

A photoconductive switching device is disclosed that has an enhanced speed ofresponse so that its closed (low) and open (high) resistive states are obtained in response to optical illumination in the less than nanosecond regime. The enhanced speed of response is achieved by neutron irradiation of a material preferably comprising GaAs:Si:Cu. An application of the improved photoconductive switching devices is disclosed which allows the realization of a high-power, frequency-agile RF source topology.