RF/IR DICHROIC BEAM COMBINER

摘要

The objective of this research effort was to design, fabricate and test an RF and Infrared (IR) beam combiner for use at multiple missile simulation laboratories. The ideal combiner, in the transmission mode, should provide minimum attenuation to RF signals between 1 and 100 GHz (very broadband spectral coverage); in the reflective mode, the combiner will provide maximum reflection of infrared signals between 3 and 12 μm. These combiners will be used for the testing of multi-spectral missile systems at NAWC/WD located at China Lake, CA.rnThe innovative approach taken by MRC, for the development of the Dichroic Beam combiner, used practical implementations of Frequency Selective Surface (FSS) theory. The advantage of this technique over dielectric coatings or metallic coatings is that it optimizes RF throughput (attenuation is no longer a function of the thickness of the metal) while increasing reflectivity in the infrared. The approach taken resulted in the development of dichroic elements which are efficient at transmitting RF and reflecting IR; the delivered hardware was also manufactured having large physical sizes and odd dimensions.