Waveguide Circulators | Microwave Techniques

Microwave Techniques produces an advanced line of industry-leading waveguide circulators for high-power microwave and RF applications. These devices are available in 3-port and 4-port configurations. While we consider development of circulators for most high power applications, our most common waveguide solutions range from WR90 to WR2300. Contact our sales team today to learn about this rapidly growing product line.

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The waveguide circulators manufactured by Microwave Techniques offer extremely minimal insertion loss, while maintaining extremely high isolation. Additionally, our many designs offer the highest peak and average power levels in the microwave & RF industry. Whether your application is scientific, medical, industrial, radar, or other – you can trust in the performance of devices from Microwave Techniques. In addition to standard components, we also offer new circulator design and development programs for all custom solutions.

Waveguide Circulators: Design Capabilities & Overview

Our design capabilities for circulators continue to expand. With a design library in the thousands of models to choose from, we assure you will not find another company as capable in the design and manufacture of waveguide circulators. Given our specialty and emphasis in high-power applications, our capabilities include:

Circulators from WR90 to WR2300+
A rapidly growing line of ISM band solutions.
Custom and standard offerings for UHF, L, S, C, and X Band.
Ability to custom configure and mating for custom applications.
New control technology adaptations, including CCS with updated software.
Development of the most advanced devices for high-energy physics applications.
The widest selection of industrial waveguide circulators for 2.45GHz and 915MHz.
Experience developing units to protect magnetrons, klystrons, TWTs, SSPAs, and other power sources.

Circulator Peak & Average Power

The peak power capability of a circulator is dependent on the dielectric properties and gas pressure within the system and geometry of the components within the device itself.

The average power dissipated in a circulator is proportional to the insertion loss and the greatest contribution to insertion loss is the ferrite material selected for use. Insertion loss results in heating of the ferrite, which can then impact performance if not mitigated. This heating can also impact the biasing magnets, increasing complexity involved in maintaining a stable environment.

Microwave Techniques waveguide circulators place emphasis on the selection and bias point of ferrite material to minimize insertion loss and maximize isolation at the frequency, bandwidth, and power level of interest.

3-Port Devices

Junction Style Circulator: Y- or T-Style
Typically, these units have a smaller footprint
More sensitivity to variations in temperature
Power handling capabilities are lower than 4-Port
3-Port devices are typically less expensive in cost

Standard Offerings:

Waveguide: WR90 to WR2300
Frequencies: X-Band to UHF Band
Fixed footprint, driven by frequency
Designs to ensure extremely low insertion loss

4-Port Devices

Differential Phase Shift Style Circulator
Typically, these units have a larger footprint
Less sensitivity to variations in temperature
Power handling capabilities are higher than 3-Port
4-Port devices are typically more expensive in cost

Standard Offerings:

Waveguide: WR90 to WR650
Frequencies: X-Band to L-Band
Footprint increasable for ultra high power
Designs to ensure extremely high isolation

Common Applications for Waveguide Circulators

Microwave Techniques designs, engineers, and manufactures each of its devices with the exact same standards of excellence, regardless of the application. Our teams have experience developing waveguide circulators for demanding applications, in which extreme accuracy, methodical design, and ultra-reliability are of the utmost importance. In addition, all specifications must be exact, precise, and reliable. The applications for these devices includes:

Custom Applications Waveguide Circulators

Military / Defense Radar
Air Traffic Control (ATC) Radar
Industrial Microwave Processing
Weather Surveillance Radar (WSR)
Medical Imaging / Radiation Therapy
High-Energy Physics / Scientific Research

Customization & Advanced Design

If you have a special application that requires customization or an advanced design, our team is happy to assist in developing a solution to meet your specifications. We ask that you come to us with as many specifications as possible, such as: device type, number of ports, frequency, bandwidth, pressurization, pulse length and repetition, intended power levels, cooling, and more. Our ability to offer customization and advanced design includes the incorporation of: