Triggered-plasma microwave switch and method

摘要

A microwave switch selectively directs a microwave signal along first and second signal paths. The switch includes a microwave transmission member, a microwave chamber formed by the transmission member for containing an ionizable gas, input and output ports formed by the transmission member to communicate with the microwave chamber and a triggered plasma generator which is configured to generate, in response to a voltage trigger signal, a trigger electron density Nt in the gas. The microwave signal increases the trigger electron density Nt to a reflective electron density Nr. Consequently, the microwave signal is reflected along a first path from the input port when the trigger electron density Nt is present and is directed along a second path to the output port when the trigger electron density Nt is absent. A plurality of these microwave switches is arranged to form a tunable microwave short.