RF/MW Components

RF/microwave components are present in all high frequency systems. Our work in this area includes the design and development of active and passive RF/microwave devices with improved bandwidth and power capabilities and developing components for indigenous production. A few specific ongoing research themes are:

• Development of circulators for space and Defence applications.
• Development of RF/microwave components for high-technology applications for low and high-power applications.

RF/Microwave/mmWave Antennas

With the advancement of wireless communication systems along with the emerging Internet of Things (IoT), low-profile planar antennas, in both their conventional and flexible forms, are finding huge applications. These applications demand thorough research from the aspect of design novelties in order to make them more compact, efficient, and cost-effective. A few specific ongoing research themes are:

• MIMO and SIW-based antennas.
• Flexible and metamaterial-based antennas.
• Antennas and launchers for current drive-in tokamaks.

Vacuum Electron Devices

Microwave Vacuum Electron Devices rely on the interaction between the electron beams and waves to generate high power at high frequencies. These devices find applications in niche areas for several strategic and high-technology applications and are often indispensable where large power or high-frequency microwaves are needed. Our work in this area ranges from design and simulation studies on novel vacuum devices for improved efficiency or high-power operation to the development of indigenous codes capable of simulating the interaction between the electron beam and waves. A few specific ongoing research themes are:

• Design of high-efficiency tubes for high-technology applications.
• Code development for PIC interactions and VED design suite.

Pulsed Power Technology

Pulsed power technologies rely on accumulation and concentration of energy over space and time and find numerous applications in manufacturing, medical treatments and military equipment. Our lab has commenced work in this area recently with efforts to develop compact Marx generators for HPM applications.

HPM Devices

HPM systems create a short-duration burst of extremely high-power electromagnetic waves, which are capable of disrupting computer systems and are a critical technology in the current scenario. Our lab is collaborating with several other national labs to develop technologies and devices for HPM applications. A few specific ongoing research themes are:

• Development of an in-guide measurement technique for HPM diagnosis.
• Design and development of microwave components for HPM systems.