Emerging Technologies

Tuneable Ka-band filters

The use of millimeter-waves for both civilian and military applications originates from the need to see through smoke, and other severe weather conditions. High frequency signal processing is also necessary for high bandwidth communications and satellite data transfer, together with anti-jamming and frequency discrimination capabilities for military radar systems.

The pivotal role of tunable filters in the fulfillment of these needs has driven the research in material sciences that led to the breakthrough by UCCS (University of Colorado at Colorado Springs) researchers towards the creation of Ka-band filters tunable from 20 to 40 GHz in one small, magnetically controlled structure. We propose the investigation of alternative paths leading to the integration of the thin-film ferromagnetic structure developed at UCCS in a fully engineered device with two RF ports, a power supply and a control port to tune the filter center-band frequency. The proposed work will focus on two areas: a) investigation of existent and novel device geometries and materials, and b) design of the ancillary circuitry needed to complete the transition from a laboratory prototype to a fully-functional device, including magnetic circuits and on-chip magnetic flux concentrators, control and temperature monitoring circuits.