Rapidly tunable RF cavity

Abstract

A rapidly tunable RF cavity includes a cavity body, and at least one ferroelectric element disposed within a hollow interior region of the cavity body. A biasing system provides a nominal DC electric field bias across the ferroelectric element so as to induce a rapid change in dielectric permittivity of the ferroelectric element, and a corresponding change in resonant frequency of the RF cavity. A change in dielectric permittivity of up to about 20% can be induced within a response time of less than 10 nanoseconds, with a biasing field strength of less than 50 kV. In some embodiments, the ferroelectric element is made of BST (barium-strontium titanate). The ferroelectric element may be cylindrically shaped, and coaxial with the cavity body. The biasing system may include one or more copper cylinders supported by supporting rods.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.