Patent ID: 6686876
Filing Date: 2004-02-03
Classification: G01S,H01J

Abstract:
A photon primed non-radioactive gas plasma receiver protector for radar systems, comprising:a section of microwave transmission line coupled to radar receiver apparatus and including an input port and an output port; a first and a second RF reflection stage located between the input port and the output port of the section of transmission line for reflecting RF energy incident at the input port while propagating an attenuated portion of the RF energy to the output port; said first reflection stage including a discharge gap and at least one container including an ionizable gas located adjacent the discharge gap; said second reflection stage being positioned relative to the first reflection stage so as to reflect maximum RF energy back to the discharge gap to produce ionization of the gas in the container upon incidence of RF energy at the input port; and, at least one photon source in the first reflection stage for emitting photons ranging in wavelength from about 260 nm to about 490 nm and operating as a primer so as to generate seed electrons which initiate ionization of the gas in the container in response to incident RF energy at the input port.