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.
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
Contact us for custom or non-standard designs.
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
Contact us for custom or non-standard designs.
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:
- 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:
- Liquid cooling
- Arc detection
- Custom flanges
- Convection cooling
- High average power
- Ultra-high peak power
- VSWR adaptive tuning
- Control and monitoring systems
- Integration of a load (to create an isolator)
Other questions about waveguide circulators?