ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the design, fabrication, and experimental results of impulse radar pulse generation and radiation experiments conducted for Norfolk Ship Systems using technology developed for the Strategic Defense Initiative Office of Innovative Science and Technology by the Applied Physical Electronics Research Center at The University of Texas at Arlington early in 1988. The usable range of ultra-wideband radar is ultimately dependent upon the peak power of the transmitted pulse and the pulse repetition rate, while the resolution is dependent upon the risetime and duration of the transmitted pulse. The generation of a very short, high power pulse is also a tradeoff between peak power and pulse rate, because fast, high power switches are difficult to operate at high pulse rates. The wavelength of the optical energy illuminating the switch must be such that the energy of each photon is greater than the band gap energy of the semiconductor.
