MSW-SER Based Tunable Oscillators

Tunable Magnetostatic Wave Straight Edge Resonators (MSW-SERs) offer an alternative to YIG spheres and varactor diodes in microwave oscillators. Work on MSW-SERs is extended to coupling with active devices. Interactions increase insight into resonator characteristics. A brief review of resonator-based microwave oscillator topologies precedes a survey of available YIG/GGG materials and coupling structures. Circuit related properties of the MSW-SER are presented as a basis for design. Circuit topologies are compared and the negative resistance topology is selected. Several examples of tunable oscillators in the L, S, and K microwave frequency bands will be given with emphasis placed on tuning bandwidth, power handling, harmonic distortion and phase noise characteristics.