The effect of frequency on the thermal effect of high power microwave pulses on a PIN limiter

A PIN limiter is often used as a microwave protector to prevent the RF front ends against direct damage from high power microwave pulses. The thermal effect of high power microwave pulses on a PIN limiter is an important issue. Since frequency is an important parameter of microwave pulses, the effect of frequency is discussed in this paper. A semiconductor simulator based on Drift-Diffusion Model is used to carry out the simulations. Results show that there is a turning point of frequency. Below the turning frequency, pulse width (the duration of time before the PIN diode burns out) decreases as frequency increases. Above the turning frequency, the relation between pulse width and frequency is more complicated and is affected by incident power.