Ce travail concerne la réalisation et la caractérisation de dispositifs hyperfréquences agiles en fréquence à base du matériau ferroélectrique KTa1-xNbxO3 (KTN) déposé en couche mince. Doté d'une permittivité diélectrique élevée (er = 700 à 10 GHz et Ebias = 0 kV/cm), KTN est un candidat prometteur pour la reconfigurabilité et la miniaturisation des dispositifs hyperfréquences. Ses pertes restent néanmoins conséquentes (tanδr = 0,3 à 10 GHz et Ebias = 0 kV/cm) et sont en partie à l'origine des pertes globales des dispositifs hyperfréquences réalisés. Afin de limiter ces pertes, une double approche a été engagée : (1) réduction des pertes diélectriques par le dopage du matériau KTN par un oxyde à faibles pertes : MgO à 3% et 6% en moles et (2) réduction des pertes globales par le confinement du matériau KTN dopé dans les zones actives des dispositifs hyperfréquences. Les couches minces de KTN non dopé et dopé d'épaisseur ~ 600 nm ont été déposées sur substrats de saphir orienté R par ablation laser pulsé (PLD). Deux compositions différentes (KTa0,5Nb0,5O3 et KTa0,65Nb0,35O3) ont été sélectionnées pour cette étude. Des dispositifs coplanaires imprimés sur les films ferroélectriques ont été réalisés et caractérisés dans la bande d'intérêt 1 GHz-20 GHz. Le dopage à 6% assure le meilleur compromis pertes / agilité avec une réduction significative des pertes globales de 0,73 à 0,20 (facteur ~ 4) du dispositif résonant imprimé sur KTa0,5Nb0,5O3 après son confinement par microgravure laser. Une agilité en fréquence de 8% est obtenue sous Ebias ≈ 75 kV/cm. L'étude d'une antenne à ondes de fuite reconfigurable en bande Ku a ensuite été mise en oeuvre. Les couches minces de KTa0,5Nb0,5O3 d'épaisseur ~ 600 nm ont été déposées par PLD sur substrats de saphir R, puis le matériau ferroélectrique a été localisé par microgravure laser dans les 6 zones actives de l'antenne (constituée de 6 tronçons). L’évolution du coefficient de réflexion sous Ebias ≈ 85 kV/cm montre une agilité en fréquence égale à 2%. Un gain maximal de 6,7 dBi a été mesuré à f = 17 GHz et Ebias = 0 kV/cm, conformément aux résultats de simulation. / This work deals with the fabrication and characterization of frequency tunable microwave devices based on ferroelectric KTa1-xNbxO3 (KTN) thin films. KTN material is a promising candidate for the tunability and miniaturization of microwave devices, due to its high dielectric permittivity (er= 700 at 10 GHz and Ebias= 0 kV/cm). Nevertheless its intrinsic loss (tanδr= 0.3 at 10 GHz and Ebias= 0 kV/cm) strongly impacts the global loss of the tunable microwave devices. To reduce this, a twofold solution has been investigated: (1) reduction of the loss tangent by doping KTN material with a low loss oxide, namely MgO (3% and 6% in mol.) and (2) confinement of the doped KTN film in efficient regions of the microwave devices and removal in noncritical areas by laser microetching. The ~ 600 nm-thick undoped and doped KTN films have been grown by Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) on R-plane sapphire substrates. Two different compositions (KTa0.5Nb0.5O3 and KTa0.65Nb0.35O3) were specifically selected for this study. Microwave measurements have been performed on KTN-based coplanar devices from 1 GHz to 20 GHz. Stub resonator printed on confined 6% doped KTa0.5Nb0.5O3 film exhibits the best loss/agility trade-off with a significant global loss reduction from 0.73 to 0.20 (factor ~ 4) with a 8% frequency tunability under Ebias≈ 75 kV/cm.Thereafter, the study of a reconfigurable Ku-band leaky-wave antenna has been carried out. A ~600 nm-thick KTa0.5Nb0.5O3 film was deposited by PLD on R-plane sapphire substrate. The ferroelectric material was localized by laser microetching on 6 specific areas of the antenna (consisted of 6 sections). The variation of the reflection coefficient under biasing (Ebias≈ 85 kV/cm) demonstrates a frequency tunability of 2%. A gain equal to 6.7 dBi has been measured at f= 17 GHz and Ebias= 0 kV/cm, in accordance with the numerical results.

This thesis introduces a topology optimization approach to design, from scratch, efficient microwave devices, such as antennas and waveguide transitions. The design of these devices is formulated as a general optimization problem that aims to build the whole layout of the device in order to extremize a chosen objective function. The objective function quantifies some required performance and is evaluated using numerical solutions to the 3D~Maxwell's equations by the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The design variables are the local conductivity at each Yee~edge in a given design domain, and a gradient-based optimization method is used to solve the optimization problem. In all design problems, objective function gradients are computed based on solutions to adjoint-field problems, which are also FDTD discretization of Maxwell's equations but solved with different source excitations. For any number of design variables, the computation of the objective function gradient requires one solution to the original field problem and one solution to the associated adjoint-field problem. The optimization problem is solved iteratively using the globally convergent Method of Moving Asymptotes (GCMMA). By the proposed approach, various design problems, including tens of thousands of design variables, are formulated and solved in a few hundred iterations. Examples of solved design problems are the design of wideband antennas, dual-band microstrip antennas, wideband directive antennas, and wideband coaxial-to-waveguide transitions. The fact that the proposed approach allows a fine-grained control over the whole layout of such devices results in novel devices with favourable performance. The optimization results are successfully verified with a commercial software package. Moreover, some devices are fabricated and their performance is successfully validated by experiments.

Thesis (PhD (Electical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Resonant frequencies and Q-factors of microwave ring resonators are predicted using interpolation- based modelling. A robust and efficient multivariate adaptive rational-multinomial combination interpolant is presented. The algorithm models multiple resonance frequencies of a microwave ring resonator simultaneously by solving an eigenmode problem. To ensure a feasible solution when using the Method of Moments, a frequency dependent scaling constant is applied to the output model. This, however, also induces a discontinuous solution space across the specific geometry and requires that the frequency dependence be addressed separately from other physical parameters. One-dimensional adaptive rational Vector Fitting is used to identify and classify resonance frequencies into modes. The geometrical parameter space then models the different mode frequencies using multivariate adaptive multinomial interpolation. The technique is illustrated and evaluated on both two- and three-dimensional input models. Statistical analysis results suggest that models are of a high accuracy even when some resonance frequencies are lost during the frequency identification procedure. A three-point rational interpolant function in the region of resonance is presented for the calculation of loaded quality factors. The technique utilises the already known interpolant coefficients of a Thiele-type continued fraction interpolant, modelling the S-parameter response of a resonator. By using only three of the interpolant coefficients at a time, the technique provides a direct fit and solution to the Q-factors without any additional computational electromagnetic effort. The modelling algorithm is tested and verified for both high- and low-Q resonators. The model is experimentally verified and comparative results to measurement predictions are shown. A disadvantage of the method is that the technique cannot be applied to noisy measurement data and that results become unreliable under low coupling conditions.

<div>The allocated frequency bands for the incoming fifth generation (5G) wireless communication technologies spread broadly from sub 6 GHz to K and potentially W bands. The evolution of the future generations toward higher frequency bands will continue and presents significant challenges in terms of excessive system complexity, production and maintenance costs. Reconfigurable radio architecture with frequency-tunable components is one of the most feasible and cost-effective solutions to meet such challenges. Among these technologies, evanescent-mode (EVA) cavity tunable resonator have demonstrated many of the needed features such as wide tunability, low loss and high linearity. Such a technology typically employs a movable membrane that controls the resonant frequency of a post-loaded cavity. </div><div><br></div><div>The first part of this work focuses on advancing such technology into the mm-wave frequency bands and beyond. Manufacturing tolerance and tuner performance are the two main limiting factors addressed here. This work develops a cost-effective micro-fabrication and package assembly flow which addresses the manufacturing related limitations. On the other hand, introducing micro-corrugated diaphragms and gold-vanadium co-sputtered thin film deposition technology, significantly reduces (4 times) the tuning voltage and enhances tuning stability (7 times). We demonstrate a tunable two-pole band-pass filter (BPF) prototype as the first EVA cavity tunable filter operating in the K-Ka band. </div><div><br></div><div>The second part of this work extensively discusses an optimal RF design flow based on the developed manufacturing technology. It considers all technology constrains and allows the actualization of a high Q transfer function with minimum bandwidth variation within an octave tuning range. Moreover, a new fully passive input/output feeding mechanism that facilitates impedance matching over the entire tuning range is presented. The devised RF methodology is validated through the design and testing of a two-resonator BPF. Measurements demonstrate a tuning range between 20-40 GHz, relative bandwidth of 1.9%-4.7%, and impedance matching over the entire tuning range which is upto 2 times better than previously reported state-of-the-art MEMS tunable filters of this type.</div><div><br></div><div>The third part of this work further advances the technology by proposing the first MEMS-based low-power bi-directional EVA tuning approach that employs both the main bias circuitry as well as a new corrective biasing technique that counteracts viscoelastic memory effects. The two key enabling technologies are extensively discussed: a) a new metal-oxide-metal (MOM) sealed cavity that maintains high quality without requiring complicated metal bonding; and b) a new electrostatic bi-directional MEMS tuner that implements the needed frequency tuning without lowering the resonator quality factor. </div><div><br></div><div>Furthermore, we explore important design and fabrication trade-offs regarding sensitivity to non-ideal effects (residual stress, fabrication imperfections). Measurement of the new prototype bi-directional design, prove that this technology readily corrects residual post-bias displacement of 0.1 um that shifts the frequency by over 1 GHz with less than 2.5 V. It takes over 100 seconds to recover this error in the uni-directional case. This correction does not adversely affect the filter performance.</div>

[ES] En los últimos años han proliferado los nuevos sistemas de satélites, sobre todo las grandes constelaciones en las órbitas terrestres bajas. Casi todos los satélites transmiten señales digitales con diversas modulaciones y niveles de potencia. Y no sólo eso, el modelo de negocio exige un rápido despliegue de los satélites, lo que impone enormes restricciones a los proveedores de equipos de carga útil de microondas. Un área de riesgo clave para estos equipos sigue siendo la avería del multipactor bajo niveles de potencia de moderados a altos. Debido a la aleatoriedad inherente al fenómeno multipactor, los clientes tienden a añadir márgenes de diseño adicionales para los componentes de microondas de alta potencia. Esto se traduce en costes más elevados, dispositivos más voluminosos y más tiempo para las pruebas. A partir de la experiencia personal realizando ensayos de multipactor, la principal motivación del trabajo descrito en la tesis ha sido emprender una revisión exhaustiva de este fenómeno y desarrollar capacidades de ensayo multipactor de vanguardia. Proporcionar medios para la prueba rápida de multipactores bajo una variedad de señales moduladas de banda ancha. La tesis demuestra que las modulaciones analógicas y digitales tienen un impacto significativo en el umbral multipactor. También se analizan los regímenes multipactor a corto y largo plazo, regímenes que, en algunos casos, presentan umbrales multipactor muy diferentes para el mismo hueco crítico. La necesidad de reducir el peso de la carga útil de microondas convierte a la multiportadora en una excelente opción para los diseñadores. Al encaminar varias señales a través del mismo dispositivo, el peso de la carga útil se reduce drásticamente. Las soluciones comerciales para pruebas multicarrier no son adecuadas debido a los altos niveles de potencia requeridos. Se presentan varias estrategias para implementar bancos de pruebas multiportadora con parámetros controlables. Los resultados demuestran que la señal generada es precisa y estable en el tiempo. Por último, se propone un novedoso sistema de detección de multipactores para hacer frente a la detección de multipactores cuando se utilizan señales moduladas y multiportadora de cualquier ancho de banda. Este método tiene la misma sensibilidad que el conocido anulador de microondas para señales de onda continua y la supera para señales moduladas. El procesamiento digital de señales utilizado para detectar los patrones multipactor proporciona un método de detección totalmente autónomo. / [CA] En els darrers anys han proliferat els nous sistemes de satèl·lits, sobretot les grans constel·lacions a les òrbites terrestres baixes. Gairebé tots els satèl·lits transmetten dades digitals amb diverses modulacions i nivells de potència. I no només això, el model de negoci exigeix un ràpid desplegament dels satèl·lits, cosa que imposa enormes restriccions als proveïdors de càrrega útil de microones. Una àrea de risc clau per a aquests equips continua sent la descarrega de multipactor sota nivells de potència de moderats a alts. A causa de l'aleatorietat inherent al fenomen multipactor, els clients tendeixen a afegir marges de disseny addicionals per als components de microones d'alta potència. Això es tradueix en costos més elevats, dispositius més voluminosos i més temps per a les proves. A partir de l'experiència personal realitzant assajos de multipactor, la motivació principal del treball descrit a la tesi ha estat emprendre una revisió exhaustiva d'aquest fenomen i desenvolupar capacitats d'assaig multipactor d'avantguarda. Proporcionar mitjans per a la prova ràpida de multipactors sota una varietat de senyals modulats de banda ampla. La tesi demostra que les modulacions analògiques i digitals tenen un impacte significatiu al llindar multipactor. També s'analitzen els règims multipactor a curt i llarg termini, règims que, en alguns casos, presenten llindars multipactor molt diferents per al buit crític mateix. La necessitat de reduir el pes de la càrrega útil de microones fa de la transmissií multiportadora en una excel·lent opció per als dissenyadors. Encaminant diverses senyals a través del mateix dispositiu, el pes de la càrrega útil es redueix dràsticament. Les solucions comercials per a proves multicarrier no són adequades a causa dels alts nivells de potència requerits. Es presenten diverses estratègies per implementar bancs de proves multiportadora amb paràmetres controlables. Els resultats demostren que el senyal amb què s'alimenta el dispositiu sotmès a proves és precís i estable en el temps. Finalment, es proposa un nou sistema de detecció de multipactors per fer front a la detecció de multipactors quan s'utilitzen senyals modulats i multiportadors de qualsevol amplada de banda. Aquest mètode té la mateixa sensibilitat que el conegut anul·lador de microones per a senyals d'ona contínua i la supera per a senyals modulats. El processament digital de senyals utilitzat per detectar els patrons multiactor proporciona un mètode de detecció totalment autònom. / [EN] In the recent past, there has been a proliferation of new satellite systems, especially the large constellations in the Low Earth Orbits (LEOs). Nearly all satellites now carry digital traffic with a variety of modulations and power levels. Not only that, the business model requires rapid deployment of satellites, putting enormous constraints for the suppliers of microwave payload hardware. A key risk area for such equipment remains the multipactor breakdown under moderate to high power levels. Owing to the inherent randomness of the multipactor phenomenon, customers tend to add extra design margins for the high power microwave components. This results in higher costs, bulkier devices and longer time for testing. Based on personal experience in multipactor testing, the prime motivator for the work described in the thesis has been to undertake a comprehensive review of this phenomenon and develop cutting edge multipactor test capabilities, providing means for the rapid multipactor testing under a variety of wide-band modulated signals. The thesis dissertation shows that analog and digital modulations have a significant impact in the multipactor threshold. The short and long-term multipactor regimes are also analyzed, regimes that, in some cases, have very different multipactor thresholds for the same critical gap. The need to reduce the microwave payload weight by using multicarriers in a single transponder provides an excellent option for designers. By routing several signals through the same device, the payload weight is dramatically reduced. Commercial solutions for multicarrier testing are not suitable because of the high power levels required. Several strategies to implement multipactor test benches with controllable parameters are presented. Results prove that the signal being fed to the device under tests is accurate and stable over time. Finally, a novel multipactor detection system is proposed to cope with multipactor detection when modulated and multicarrier signals of any bandwidth are used. This method has the same sensitivity as the well known microwave nulling for continuous wave signals and surpasses it for modulated signals. The digital signal processing used to detect the multipactor patterns provides a full autonomous detection method. / Monerris Belda, Ó. (2023). Advanced Techniques for Multipactor Testing [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/192786

[ES] La constante evolución de la tecnología y la búsqueda de nuevas aplicaciones que mejoren la vida de las personas ha llevado a la incorporación de estas tecnologías en el organismo. Las redes inalámbricas de área corporal (WBAN) son un buen ejemplo de esto, que consisten en redes de comunicaciones ubicadas en el propio cuerpo, tanto en la superficie como implantadas en su interior mediante el uso de dispositivos inalámbricos. Estas redes utilizan el cuerpo humano como medio de transmisión, por lo que debe evaluarse la influencia del mismo sobre la propagación. Además, las nuevas generaciones de comunicaciones móviles se están moviendo hacia el uso de frecuencias cada vez más altas, como las ondas milimétricas, que son más sensibles a la presencia de cualquier objeto en el entorno, incluidos los humanos. La investigación y el diseño de antenas y dispositivos que tengan en cuenta el cuerpo humano requiere pruebas en el entorno donde se supone que deben usarse. Los fantomas se convierten en una herramienta para evaluar la transmisión de señales electromagnéticas en un medio equivalente al cuerpo para evitar la experimentación en humanos o animales. Además de eso, se puede estudiar la influencia de estas ondas electromagnéticas sobre los propios tejidos en cuanto a la tasa de absorción específica (SAR). / [CA] L'evolució constant de la tecnologia i la recerca de noves aplicacions que milloren la vida de les persones ha portat a la incorporació d'aquestes tecnologies en l'organisme. Les xarxes sense fils d'àrea corporal (WBAN) són un bon exemple d'açò, que consisteixen en xarxes de comunicacions ubicades al propi cos, tant en la superfície com implantades en el seu interior mitjançant l'ús de dispositius sense fils. Aquestes xarxes empren el cos humà com a medi de transmissió, per la qual cosa se n'ha d'avaluar la influència sobre la propagació. A més, les noves generacions de comunicacions mòbils s'estan movent cap a l'ús de freqüències cada vegada més altes, com les ones mil·limètriques, que són més sensibles a la presència de qualsevol objecte en l'entorn, incloent-hi els humans. La investigació i el disseny d'antenes i dispositius que tinguen en compte el cos humà requereix proves en l'entorn on se suposa que han d'usar-se. Els fantomes esdevenen una eina per a avaluar la transmissió de senyals electromagnètics en un medi equivalent al cos per tal d'evitar l'experimentació en humans o animals. A més d'això, es pot estudiar la influència d'aquestes ones electromagnètiques sobre els teixits mateixos en relació amb la taxa d'absorció específica (SAR). / [EN] The constant evolution of technology and the search for new applications that improve people's lives has led to the arrival of the incorporation of these technologies in the organism. Wireless body area networks (WBANs) are a good example of this, consisting of communications networks located in the body itself, both on the surface and implanted inside it through the use of wireless devices. These networks use the human body as the transmitting medium, so its influence over the propagation has to be assessed. Besides, new generations of mobile communications are moving towards the use of higher frequencies, as the millimetre waves, which are more sensitive to the presence of any object in the environment, including humans. The research and design of antennas and devices that take into account the human body requires testing in the environment where these are supposed to be used. Phantoms become a tool for evaluating the transmission of electromagnetic signals in a body-equivalent medium in order to avoid experimentation on humans or animals. In addition to that, the influence of these electromagnetic waves over the tissues themselves can be studied with regard to the specific absorption rate (SAR). / This thesis has been possible thanks to the funding contribution of the Universitat Polit`ecnica de Val`encia through the PAID-01-16 programme. This work was also supported by the UPV-IIS La Fe programme (STUDER, 2016 and EMOTE, 2017). The research stay was supported by the European Union’s Erasmus+ funding programme under a traineeship grant. / Castelló Palacios, S. (2019). Wideband Electromagnetic Body Phantoms for the Evaluation of Wireless Communications in the Microwave Spectrum [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/132182 / TESIS

No / A new dual-log spiral geometry is proposed for microstrip resonators, offering substantial advantages in performance and size reduction at subgigahertz frequencies when realized in superconducting materials. The spiral is logarithmic in line spacing and width such that the width of the spiral line increases smoothly with the increase of the current density, reaching its maximum where the current density is maximum (in its center for ¿/2 resonators). Preliminary results of such a logarithmic ten-turn (2 × 5 turns) spiral, realized with double-sided YBCO thin film, showed a Q.-factor seven times higher than that of a single ten-turn uniform spiral made of YBCO thin film and 64 times higher than a copper counterpart. The insertion loss of the YBCO dual log-spiral has a high degree of independence of the input power in comparison with a uniform Archimedian spiral, increasing by only 2.5% for a 30-dBm increase of the input power, compared with nearly 31% for the uniform spiral. A simple approximate method, developed for prediction of the resonant frequency of the new resonators, shows a good agreement with the test results.