Microwave filters with improved power handling capabilities for satellite applications

微电容器是一种共振电子现象，其中二次电子是由于初级电子撞击射频表面而发射的。然后，二次电子与射频场相互作用，返回结构，产生更多的二次电子。电子的数量随着时间的推移而增长，直到射频信号失真或发生损伤。微电容器是卫星通信设备和粒子加速器的主要限制因素，因为这两种应用都需要高功率和真空。目前，在卫星工业中，微电容器是通过在射频设计中提供巨大的安全裕度来处理的。更好地了解微电容器可能会导致更小的利润率，从而显著降低成本。卫星通信业价值数十亿英镑。最近在加速器背景下对微电抗器的研究导致了用于估计和控制微电抗器的准确计算工具。该项目旨在将这些新的计算工具和技术应用于卫星通信设备的建模，并以现有部件的实验测量为基准。这些工具将用于优化具有更高功率处理能力的卫星通信设备。

Multipactor is a resonant electron phenomena where secondary electrons are emitted due to primary electrons hitting the RF surface. The secondary electrons then interact with the RF field to return to the structure creating more secondary electrons. The number of electrons growths with time until the RF signal is distorted or damage occurs. Multipactor is a major limiting factor in both satellite communications equipment and particle accelerators due to the high power and vacuum required in both applications. At present multipactor is dealt with in the satellite industry by providing huge safety margins in RF design. Better understanding of multipactor could result is smaller margins and hence a significantly reduced cost. The satellite communications industry is worth several billion pounds.Recent studies of multipactor in the context of accelerators has led to accurate computational tools for estimating and controlling multipactor. This project aims to apply these new computational tools and technique to the modelling of satellite communications equipment and to benchmark them against experimental measurements of existing components. These tools will them be used to optimise satellite communications equipment with a higher power handling.