Development of a diplexer based on dielectric beam splitters

Controllable power combination and distribution of multiple sources into multiple transmission lines may increase efficiency and flexibility of ECRH systems. A new quasi-optical version of diplexer based on a resonating system, coupling two transmission lines, is under development at IFP-CNR. Two dielectric beam splitters work as input/output ports for the diplexer, which can be thought as a Fabry Perot resonator. A third beam splitter can be inserted in the middle of the resonator. In this case the diplexer looks like a pair of mirrored resonators coupled by through the central splitter. Each beam splitter is made of a water-free silica layer, three quarter of wavelength thick at 140 GHz. The simulated performances were tested as a function of the frequency on the two splitters simpler model. Preliminary results confirm qualitatively theoretical predictions as well as the good channel separation obtainable with the three splitters version. Present work describes the system realization together with the low power tests performed. (C) 2011 EURATOM ENEA-CNR-Association/Instituto di Fisica del Plasma. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.