652

IEEE

TRANSACTIONS

Microwave
GIL

M.

ON

MICROWAVE

Lithium

ARGE&TTINA

AND PAUL

ferrites
are discussed and compared with
AbstracfLitkkrn
other spinel microwave ferrites and rare earth-iron garnets. Points
of comparison are saturation magnetization, temperature performance, hysteresis loop properties, stress sensitivity, insertion loss,
power handling capability, resonmce ~mewidth, and cost. The main
points of discussion deal with the relative effectiveness of lithium
ferrites, nickel ferrites, magnesium ferrites, and garnets as elements
employed in latching applications at frequencies in the S, C, X, and
K% bands.
A section is devoted to the compositional modifications necessary
for: 1) adjusting magnetization, spin-wave line width, coercive force,
and magnetic snisotropy; 2) the minimization of stress sensitivity
and dielectric loss; and 3) the improvement of microstructural
characteristics.

I. INTRODUCTION
HE

category

can

be divided

earth-iron
limited

of

microwave
into

garnets,

in

eliminated

for C-band

Though

of 1800 G,

type

for many

by the device designer [1].

magnesium-ferrite
systems

been used by the microwave

industry.

Due to

D.

B.

domain

II.

DESIRABLE

A.

OF

MATERIALS

applications,

and/or

system

to be useful

over the full

range of

microwave
frequencies,
the room temperature
saturation
magnetization
must be adjustable
from 200 to 5000 G to
satisfy loss requirements,
as will be discussed in what
follows.

magnetic

result

of

phenomena

[4],

loss can be defined

+ 47rM.)

by

<

(1)

where HA and 47rM, are the anisotropy

field and saturation magnetization
of the ferrimatietic
material;
-y is
the gyromagnetic
ratio; and u is the operating frequency.
100 Oe which results in a conloss according
to (1). When

Many spinels have HA w

tribution
to the magnetic

itmay be ignored. In such cases, the condi< 1. Materials

tion for low loss becomes CO~/CO
= 741TM./w

HA << 47rM,,

which

have

tion

in

good

high

47riM,,
device

magnetic

performance,

Dielectric

loss
by

loss
<3

104

of

tan

& slightly

to

[5].

to

con-

the

two

Schlomann,
loss

than

5 X
to

di-

as long

considerable

greater

the

108

ascribed

insertion

contribution

For
of

between
to

is also

shift.
part

<4

hopping
According

there

as

evidence
104

can

insertion

be

loss.

Handling

handling
by

capability
the

as spin waves.

nonlinear

be

reduc-

phase

imaginary

generally

contribute

[6];

of

should
is

Fe+3.

a corresponding
terms

the

electron

a minimal

is limited

known

ferrites

not

with

Power

C.

p,

of
and

does

levels

tolerated

in

Fe+2

in

tensor,

means

ions,

&

require

is costly

permeability

duction
iron

anisotropy

which

onset

of ferromagnetic
of magnetic

Once excited,

mate-

instabilities

spin waves

cause a

increase in loss.

fixed frequency.

The spin-wave

with the spin-wave

the magnetization
linewidths

linefor a

of garnets

and

spinels can be broadened from 2 to 20 Oe to accommodate

existing high-power
design requirements.
D.

Hysteresis

Remanent
Manuscript received September 20, 1973; revised December 3,
1973.
The authors are with Ampex Corporation, Redwood City, Calif.
94063.

is the

relaxation

Power handling
varies directly
width
( AH~ ) and invers@ y with

Magnetization

For a ferrite

[3],

for minimum

The power

CHARACTERISTICS

latching

T(HA
c%

applications.

FERROMAGNETIC

for

resonance

Conditions

rials
MICROWAVE

MEMBER, IEEE

the relation

that

latching

1974

Overview

BABA,

consideration

tan

efforts
[2]
have resulted
in a
which off ers performance
advanspinels and is competitive
with

6, JuN~

Insertion
loss is composed of both dielectric
and magnetic loss. Low field magnetic
loss, which is the major

from

latching

No.

Loss

electric

use in 8- and C-band

VOL. MW-22,

Paper)

temperature
performance
or loss,
of lower magnetizations
have been

applications.
Recent development
lithium-ferrite
system
tages over the other
garnets

rare

garnet
( YIG)
can be chemically
practically
every performance
char-

acteristic considered important

Spinels of. the nickel and

virtually

the

ferrites.
ceiling

have been the most important

severe limitations
spinel compositions

materials

types:

spinel

magnetization

years. Yttrium-iron
modified
to enhance

have long

ferromagnetic
principal

and the cubic

by a saturation

the garnets

two

T~C=NIQu%

AND

Ferrites: An

(Irwitecl

THEORY

BH

varies
tion

Loop

magnetization

loop properties
in direct
is limited

Properties
B, is the most important

for latching

proportion
by

WJW

with
<

applications.
B,,

of the

Phase shift

and since magnetiza-

1, the ratio

of BJ47rM,

must

ARGENTINA

AND

beashigh

EABA:

MICROWAVE

as possible,

LITHIUM

Inmanyof

garnets, remanence ratios

For most phase shifter
tion drive techniques,

653

FERRITES

thespinel

ferrites

of 0.75 are obtainable.

applications
employing

temperature

and

,
satura-

of B, should

sensitivity

be<
*2 G/C over the temperature
range OC to +80C.
The gadolinium-doped
yttrium-iron
garnets
(Gd YIG)
used at S band have magnetic compensation
points below
room temperature,
and as a result can have temperature
sensitivities

of < ~ 1 G/W.

Due to the ferrite-to-waveguide

contact experienced in
most phase shifter designs, stress is encountered
during
normal

temperature

cycling.

It

that

the effect on B, of uniaxial

the

direction

determined

of

the

field

is

parallel

lb/in2

of 10 percent.

result

Magnesium

and lithium

ferrites
in B, of

requirements

on the coercive

for

phase

force and the switched

is

Though
latching

Linewidth

importance

most

linewidth

consideration

such as circulators.
the

widely

materials

design

is perhaps

for above

The aluminum
used

in the

the most

resonance

substituted
for

above

of

devices

due to broad

Recent
vanadium
20 Oe).
III.

type

as a result, high coercive

widths were experienced.

forces and broad resonance

line-

IV.

COMPOSITIONAL

CONSIDERATIONS

A.

Reduction

and Elevation

FOR

MICROWAVE
FERRITES
of JTM.

Unsubstituted
lithlum
ferrite
has a saturation
magnetization
of ca. 3700 G. In order to tailor thk material
to specific microwave
prepared

with

requirements,

room temperature

compositions

must be

magnetizations

from 200

Lithium

ferrite

has the formula

(Fe+) [Lio.,+Fe,.,+3]0,.

The parentheses

( ) and the brackets

(2)
[ ] indicate

ions

resonance
[9],

[10]

garnets

with

extremely

BACKGROUND

have

resulted
narrow

in

ion having
octahedral

LITHIUM

fewer

site is dominant.

a nonmagnetic

spins than

ion

For reduc-

(or a magnetic

Fe+3) is introduced

site as a replacement

tetrahedral
site. In either case, the octahedral
site normally remains dominant.
Ionic
substitution
must be performed
in a manner

calcium-

linewidths

( 10

FERRITES

Lithium
ferrites became commercially
important
as computer memory core materials in the early 1960s. The high

a nonmagnetic

on the

for Fe+. To increase the

magnetization,

ion is introduced

on the

which insures electronic

charge neutrality.
For example,
AI+3 substitutes
equivalently
for Fe+3. Divalent
(+2)
and quadrivalent
( +4)
ment. These substitutions
following
divalent

ON

so, the octahedral

of magnetization

resonance

linewidths.

efforts

tion

YI Gs are

circulators.
These materials
have Iinewidths
of =,45 Oe.
Some of the lithium-ferrite
spinels are close to the garnets
in performance;
however, the nickel and magnesium
ferrites are not at all suitable for above resonance application

which

Thk

of heat treatment
causes the volatility
of Li,O [15], [16]
which results in some reduction
of iron. For this reason
lithium
ferrites were considered difficult
to prepare with
low dielectric loss. In addition,
these lower magnetization
lithium
ferrites were characterized
by high porosities, and

parallel;

of no particular

design

elements,

temperatures.

distributed
on tetrahedral
and octahedral
sites, respectively. The magnetic spins on each of the sites are anti-

devices, resonance

critical

substituent

high sintering

to

concen-

flux of

state drivers.
Resonance

of the

comparable

due to the high

to 5000 G.
shifters

the ferromagnetic
element.
Coercive forces of less than
1 Oe are small enough to permit the use of low-cost solid-

E.

nature

LITHIUM

are practically
stress insensitive,
with changes
less than 2 percent for the same test conditions.
dependent

relatively

of the hard axis magnetostriction

in changes in B, on

energy

and

magnetizations

refractory

EFFECTIVE

garnets,

Switching

tration
requires

to

[7]. The garnets are

Mn+3 additions
[8]
stress sensitivity
in

the order

with

are very

predominantly

constant to the anisotropy

constant
particularly
stress sensitive.
While
have appreciably
reduced bending
loads of x500

ferrites

the garnets

demonstrated

stress applied

magnetic

by the ratio

has been

ance. Lithium

trivalent

ions require additional

can be accomplished

adjustby the

formulas:
(+2)
( +3)

quadrivalent
The specific

(+4)

LiO,~w.~$+Fez.b_O
.s~+3M~+20t

(3)

Li0,~+Fez.~Z+3MZ+304

(4)

LiO.s+O.s~+FeZ.s_l
.b~+3M~+401. (5)

substituent

ion is selected

on the basis of

Curie temperature,
leading to unparalleled
thermal stability, the excellent hysteresis loop properties,
and the high

ionic size and crystal

saturation
magnetization
all prompted
this commercial
interest.
For many of the same reasons there was con-

and the chemical stability

of the ion. Ti+4 and AI+3 are
nonmagnetic
ions which have very strong octahedral
site

siderable development
effort aimed at providing
microwave quality lithium
ferrites [11 ][14].
The principal
interest in microwave
lithium
ferrites is

preferences and work very well for magnetization

reduction. Ti+4 has been used by several investigators
[2], [11],
[13],
[14],
[20]. Al+ is very difficult
to work with in

as a low-cost replacement
for the rare earth-iron
offering
competitive
or improved
temperature

that it forms
under normal

garnets,
perform-

field, which

influence

site preference

an immiscible
compound
with Li and
processing conditions
[16], over much

O,
of

6.54

IEEE

LU-XO..

=25.X

. SABA et al [21
O VASSILEV
[261

%s-I. sxW%

%5+0.S.
A

BABA et al [21

A BLASSE

4000

ON

[181

rates. The latter

ferrites.

on the
It

LI AL
o

#
Li Ti

4TM.
A

2000

the

1000

02

04

agent in the sintering

behavior

of a lithium-titanium

densities

of M 99 percent

of

force.

of porosity
through

liquid

and

This
the

is accomplished
increased

phase sintering.

grain

Fig.

by
size

3 shows

90-

as liquid
by Baba

LI Ti

known

successfully

LI AL
a

sintering

the coercive

reduction

experienced

.,

1974

Fig. 2 shows the effect of trace amounts

can be seen that

of reducing

JUNE

the theoretical
maximum
can be achieved
at 1000C.
The same composition
without
Bi has a density of N 75
percent of theoretical
at the same sintering temperature.
The use of a sintering aid has the attendant
advantage

3000

T.

method,

using BizOa as the fluxing

[2]

ferrite.

TECHNIQUES,

defects that enhance difa liquid

phase which in-

has been employed

of Bi

AND

creases diffusion

of lithium

THEORY

phase sintering,
et al.

G
In
3

MICROWAVE

by promoting
crystallographic
fusion, and those which form

5000
L105

TRANSACTIONS

A
.

06

08

80<

Fig.
1.
Room
temperature
temperature
as a function
ferrite.

saturation
of Al and

70~

the compositional
range. The nonmagnetic
ion Zn+2 has
a very strong tetrahedral
site preference and is commonly
used for elevation
of magnetization
in all spinel-ferrite
systems.
The only drawback
to the use of a qnadrivalent
ion

60

such as Ti+4 is that

:~

[see

(5) ] which

sites [18].

Thk

it requires

is believed

have

as high

the addition
to

a Curie

a lithium-titanium
temperature

aluminum
ferrite of equivalent
can be seen in Fig. 1.
B.

Nintering

of some

the

L108 .zno, BIX Fel 4.X T10704

I

Li+

925

975

950

tetrahedral

ferrite

between
does not

1000
FIRING

Fig.

2.

1025

TEMPERATURE

Density
versus sintering
temperature
for the composition
LiO.sZnO.,Bi=Fe,.

1050

1075

I 100

(C)

and bismuth
~zTk.@i.

content

as does a lithium-

magnetization.

This effect

Aids

Lithium
ferrite
The substitution
increases

occupy

weakens the exchange interaction

the sites. As a result,

and Curie
in lithlum

magnetization
Ti substitution

this

is difficult
of Ti+4 to

refractory

to sinter to high density.

effect a lowering
of 4xM.

nature.

Temperatures

in excess

of 1200C are required to sinter a typical

1OOO-G 47TM3
lithium-titanium
ferrite to a density of around 90 percent
of theoretical
maximum.
At these temperatures
the loss
of lithium,
oxygen, or both [14], [15] is reflected by high
dielectric
loss, the result of the irreversible
reduction
of
some Fe+3 to Fe+2.
To alleviate this problem it is necessary to improve the
chemical

reactivity

been proposed,
materials;
for

of the system.

Several

some of which employ

example, fine particle

methods

have

highly reactive raw

FQ03 and molten

salts [19]; however, the most practical

method
high density concomitant
with a low sintering

o!

to insure
tempera-

ture is to employ a sintering

aid. These materials
are of
two principal
types: those which work in the solid state

925

Fig.

3.

950

975

1000

1025

FIRING

TEMPERATuRE

1050

1075

1100

(C)

Coercive
force versus sintering
temperature
content
for the composition
~10.sZn0.1BizFel.4_

and bismuth
t~10.zOi.

.iRGENTINA

AND

BABA:

MICROWAVE

LITHIUM

the effect of Bi on the coercive

ferrite.

Acoercive

of ~lOOOC.

C. Reduction

of Magnetic

Lithium-titanium

ferrites

are relatively

The high aniscitropy

magnetic

loss in low

Effective

reduction

tio ,8.0 ~x CoxZno, Mno.os fio

S6 ~0002

FEI4oi3-o

ssoq,

at sintering

high anisotropy

adversely

magnetization

resonance

by the addition

Oe can result

Anisotropy

materials.

and broadens

force of a lithium-titanium

force of <1

temperatures

655

FERRITES

effects low field

(<800

G)

ferrites

L_.

linewidth.
of anisotropy

can be accomplished

of Zn+2. Fig. 4 shows this effect on series

of 400-G 4mMs lithlum-titanium

f errites. This is not accomplished without
sacrifice, however, and the Curie temperature for this series decreases from 220C for O Zn+2 to
120C for the composition
with 0.15 ions per formula unit
of Zn+2.
D.

Variation

in

Spin-

To be effective
ferrites

must

pability.
spin-wave

Linewidth

as a microwave

offer

This

Wave

ferrite

a variability

can be accomplished

linewidth.

Doping

Co+2, a fast relaxing

magnetic

system,

in power
by

with

variation

small

ion, allows

alteration
of spin-wave linewidth
from
as is shown in Fig. 5.
The efficacy of Co+ in increasing

lithium

handling
quantities

ferrite.

E. Minimization

of Dielectric

Trivalent
minimize

manganese
dielectric

in

AHk

has

that

tion of tan 6, to <5

X 104 with

the magnetostriction

V. MATERIALS
A comparison
ferrites

Fig. 5.
AH=,
cOmpOSitiOn

Green
doped

A.

employed
ferrites.

Fig.

to

of commercially

and

Temperature

Performance

47rMs versus, Curie

Li

spinels

Two

types

varying
in qnisotropy.
the Gd YIGs which

and

temperature

the

of hthium

Y Gd Fe
ferrites

for the
garnets

are shown,

The temperature
performance
of
are magnetically
compensated
and

It
5000
AV

of

[24].

4000

LITHIuM

FERRITES

NICKEL FERRITES

MAGNESIUM

Gd Al GARNETS

FERRITES

OVERVIEW
available

applications

and

6 depicts

Ni,

by a simple

the added advantage

constants

10

tan &, and tan &j versus .coba~t concentration

for the
LiO.TS-.OSzCo~ZnO.lMnO. 0sT10.8eB10.mFel .402-6.6@4.

Mcignetization

Fe+2 [22], [23]. Mn+3

system for minimiza-

SYSTEMS

for phase shifter

been

of spinel

this is accomplished

oxidationreduction
reaction with
works very well in the lithium-ferrite

lithlum-

Loss

doping

for continuous

Mg,

loss in a variety

COGALT [ 10-310NS/F.U

( Gd YIGs).

has been reported

reducing

of

2 Oe to N 8 Oe,

titanium
ferrites is well known [2],
[20],
[21].
[21] has reported
a AH, of 13.7 Oe in a Co+
lithium-titanium

ca-

in the

garnets

and
0

is made.

0
o

100
90
80
70
so
K
q

50

[04

40

30

7.0
10

0
o

0.05

0.1

0.15

~h-2 lo~~ / ~o~~~~ ~,T

Fig.

4.

Anisotropy

versus
zinc
lithium-titanium

concentration
ferrites.

in

Ibo

200

300

CURIE

400-G

47rM,

Fig.

6.

400

TEMPERATURE

500

600

700

(C )

4TM.
versus
Curie
temperature
for nickel,
magnesium,
and lithium
ferrites,
and gadolinium-aluminum
YIGs.

IEEE

656

have excellent

temperature

this

for these materials

criterion;

demonstrate

the limited

stability

cannot
Fig.

be judged

6 serves only

range of magnetizations

TRAN8AcTi0N8

ON MICROWAVE

THEORY

AND

TeChniqUeS,

JUNE

1974

by
to

possible

with

the garnet system.

Figs. 710 show the

remanent

temperature

magnetization

dependency

of the

compositions
for
it S, C, X, and Ku bands, The parameter
shown in the figures is defined as

application
B, percent

for

B, percent

Two lithium

ferrites

optimum

&~oo

C)

L3r(i250

C)

(6)

B,(~oO c,

varjing

are shown in Fig. 7, again

in

anisotropy.
B.

Hysteresis

Loop

Properties

all of the
With
the exception
of the .niclcel ferrites,
G can be
materials
under discussion with 4rM, <2000
processed to yield excellent
hysteresis
loop ,properties.
The lithhmn ferrites and garnets, in nearly all cases, are
available

with

remanence

ratios

(B,/47rMs)

interest

enjoying
4~M. for

in the 47rM~ > 20W G

garnets. are low enough

lems. The nickel ferrites

spinel ferrites.
and lithium
spinels

to avoid switching
energy
have relatively
high HC.

-25

25

50

TEMPERATURE

Fig. 7.
Bz versus temperature
for
ferrites,
and a gadolinium-aluminum
for S-band latching
applications.

region. Here improvements

on the-order of 1550 percent
in remanence ratio are obtainable
~th the l;thium-ferrite
system in comparison with other
Coercive force for magnesium

-50

of approxi-

mately 0.75 with the lithium

ferrites generally
a small advantage.
Fig. 11 sho~ng
l?, versus
the spinels is of particular

100

100 - 125

75
(C)

a magnesium
YIG
with

ferrite,
optimum

lithh-nn
47rM.

1000

and

9oo-

prob8002

C. Insertion

LOSS and Power

Handling

In the range of magnetizations

ferrites

with

herently

anisotropy

700

200 to S00 G, the lithium

the best temperature

high

Capability

fields.

performance
This

results

have inin

higher

magnetic loss than a Gtl Al YI G of the same magnetization ( <800 G). Ordinary
methods for reduction
of anisotropy
in the lithium-ferrite
system increase the tem-

drkw

sign [25]

employing

has resulted

phase shifter
this

in excellent

applications.

same material
phase shifter

A recent

z
w

with

flux

drive
The

100

-50

lithium
ferrite shown in curve 3 of Fig. 7 enjoys temperature performance
close to the garnet but due to higher
anisotropy
is Iossier.
Both the Gd Al YI&s

and lithium

ferrites

are avail-

able for high-power

applications.
At the present
time,
offer superior
temperature
however,
the Gd Al YIGs
sttibilit y at S band for equivalent
loss, magnetization,

de-

performance.

500-

perature sensitivity.
In referring to Fig. 7, curve, 2 represent the performance
of a lithium
ferrite which is equivalent in loss to Gd Al YIGs of the same 4~M~. This particular lithium ferrite is too temperature
sensitive for most
saturation

600-

~.

-25

25TEMPERATURE

Fig. 8.
BR versus temperature
YIG with optimum
47rM,

50

75

100

125

( C)

f or a lithlum
f errite
for C-band latching

and a gadoliniurn
applications.

ferr{tes are generally

employed
for X-band
frequencies
~nd above. At these higher
frequencies,
the lithium
ferr~tes dominate
with temperature
stabilities
equivalent

and power handling.

At C-band frequencies and above, the effect of anisotropy on low field magnetic loss is tiegligible.
As a result
the lithlum
ferrites and Gd YIGs are very close in every

parable to the Mg ferrites. Lithium

ferrites in the magnetization
range of from 2000 to 5000 G are available
with

performance
aspeet.
Due to the requirement

ments.

to the Ni ferrites

spin-wave
for

4mM~ >2000

spinel

and with

linevvidths,

very low insertion

high enough to satisfy

losses tori

most requil%-

.%RGENTINA

AND

BABA:

.MICROWAVl?

LITHIUM

657

FERRITES

20001

D.

L-

Pk>

Cost

The

cost of raw

ferromagnetic

ing price of phase shifter

labor
4rM~

500

-50

-25

LiF

NiF

Mg F

BR

25

50

TEMPERATURE

used in the preparation

has a major

influence

elements

intended

of

on the sellfor use at 8

and C bands. The raw materials

used in the preparation
of most spinel ferrites are about an order of-magnitude
cheaper than for most members of the Gd YIG system.
Reasonable

materials

materials

75

(C)

Fig. 9.
ll~versu
sternperaturefor
nickel,
ferrites
with optimum
4mM. for X-band

BR%

will

manufacturing

input

dictate

sell for about

ment.

yields,

that

50 percent

Because the typical

the raw material

content

cost. Therefore,

a spinel

raw materials

a spinel-ferrite

cost, and

S-band

element

of the cost of a garnet

C-band

configuration

is a lower proportion
C-band

element

el~

is smaller,
of the unit

sells for 70 per-

cent of the cost of a garnet element. The difference

price gets proportionately
smaller as the frequency
100

in
of

operation increases. Structures for higher frequency applications utilize very little material
and the effect of raw

1?5

magnesium,
andlithlum
latching
applications.

material
tions.

costs essentially
At

lithium

3000

drops

such frequencies,

ferrites

relative

becomes the deeiding

out of pricing

the

superior

considera-

performance

to other systems, rather

of

than cost,

factor.

I
E.

Summary

The lithium-ferrite

system is comprised

of from <200
can be varied

to optimize

stability

off

via

the magnetic

anisotro~y

power handling
the

inherently

for

any

trat!e-

practical

level

of

capability.

best

( <800

possible

high

G) lithium-titanium

temperature

anisotropy,

which

ferrites

performance
is responsible

have
for

ex-

cessive low field magnetic loss. The presently

employed
method used for reducing anisotropy
in the lithium-ferrite
system compromises
temperature
performance
but does
result in low loss. For a fixed magnetization,
power han-

Fig. 10.
ferrltes

loss-temperature

reduction

Low magnetization
with

-50

of discrete com-

positions with saturation

magnetizations
to >5000
G. Each of these compositions

-25

B?versu$
temperature
with opt]mum
47M,

25

50

75

IQO

125

dling

TEMPERATURE

(C )

fornickel,
for K.-band

magnesium,
and lithium
latching
applications.

ure

capability,
sensitive

and loss the Gd YIGs

than

low

anisotmpy

are less temperat-

lithium-titanium

fer-

rites.
For C-band
etizations

latching

of x1200

devices, where materials

G are normally

with magn-

employed,

the level

of anisotropy
encountered
in the best temperature
formance lithium
ferrites does not influence insertion

pei~
loss.

In this case for garnets to match the temperature

stability
of the lithium
ferrites, they must be heavily doped with
Gd+t, and as a result of this are slightly Iossier.
Lithium
magnesium
above.

ferrites
ferrites

Improvements

are superior

to the nickel

used at frequencies
on the

order

of 1.5-150 percent

remanence ratio are obtainable

with the
system in comparison with other spinels.
01

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

4mM3 (GAUSS)

Fig.

11.

Remsnent
magnetization
for lithium,
magnesium,

versus saturation
magnetization
and nickel ferrites.

ferrites

and

in the X band and

in

lithium-ferrite

REFERENCES
[1] A. S. Hudsonj
Molecular
engineering
wave ferromagnetic
garnets,
Marconi

in the design .of microRev., pp. 926, Jan. 1970.

[2] P. D. Baba, G. hf. Argentina, W. E. Courtney, G. F. Dionne,

658

I13EX

TRANSACTIONS

ON

MICROWAVE

and D. H. Temme,
Fabrication
and properties
of microwave
lithium
ferrites,
IEEE
Trans. Magn.,
vol. MAG-8,
PP.8394,
Mar. 1972.
Resonance
~henomena
in
ferrites.
[3] D. Polder
and J. Smit,
,,
Rev. Mod. Phys., vol. 17, pp. 89-90, 1053.
[4] J. J. Green, E. Schlomann, F. Sandy, and J. Saunders, Charac-

[14]

-.

[17]

-.

[18]

[19]
[20]

[21]
[22]
[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]

[13]

349, 1967.
P. D. Baba and
Summary
Tech.

S. K. Banerjee,
Microwave
Rep. ESD-TR-68-251,
1968.

Diode

ferrite

JOSEPH

AbstractThis
paper contains considerations for diode phase
shifters used for phased array antenna control. The categories are:
1) areas in which ferrite and diode phase shifters d@er, 2) diode
phase-shifter circuits, 3) the nature and typical performance of
p-i-n diodes, 4] the requirements of a driver and a ~ical circuit,
and 5) measured performance of phase- shifters in L, S, C, and
X bands.

Diodes

and

Ferrites

No.

6, JUNE

E. Brown,
Low-loss
lithium
ferrites
applications,
J. Appt.
Phys.,
vol.

1974
for
42,

Ferrospinelles
comprenant
letude
de leurs
propri6t&
Paris, Paris, Francej
1Q62.

MEMBER,

lion
Li +
magni%iques,

et

conM.S.

Antennas

IEEE

Paper)

interest

in the electronically

controlled

phased

array

an

tennas began. It is significant

that neither technology
has
totally
bettered the other (in the SX frequency bands)
in mor,e than a decade of intensive
investigation
which
they have received.
two

more

widely

Furthermore,
dissimilar

it is difficult

technical

to imagine

approaches

to the

same problem.
In principle, it is possible to have a complete understanding of either approach without
any familiarity
with the

I. INTRODUCTION
A.

A. Vassiliev,
tribution
4
thesis, Univ.

for Array

F. WHITE,
(Invited

M1l!-22,

100, 1973.

program,

Phase Shifters

and A.
latching

VOL.

ferrites,
J. Amer. Ceram. SoC., vol. 52, pp. 157-160,
1969.
D. H. Ridgley,
H. Lessoff,
and J. D. Childress,
Effects
of
lith{um
and oxygen
losses on magnetic
and crystallographic
properties
of spinel lithlum
ferrite,
J. Amer. Ceram.
Sot.,
vol.
53, pp. 304311,
1970.
D. W. Strickler
and R. Roy,
Studies
in the system
Li,OAl&FeiO,-H~O,
J. Amer. Ceram. Sot., vol. 44, pp. 225230,
lW1
Crystal
chemistry
and some magnetic
properties
G. Blasse,
of mixed metal oxides with spinel structure,
Philips
Res. Rep.
Suppt.,
no. 3, pp. 96-104,
1964.
D. G. Wlckham,
!The preparation
of ferrites
with the aid of
fused salts,
in Proc. Int. Coi#. Ferrites,
1970, pp. 105-107.
M. P. Bunina,
E. V. Lebedeva,
A. I. Pi~shchikov,
and I. I.
Silvestrobich,
Effectiveness
of the influence
of Co+z on spin1970.
wave losses, Fiz. Tverd. Tela, vol. 12, pp. 433-438,
J. J. Green,
Workshop
on the properties
and uses of lithlum
ferrites,
presented
at the 1973 INTERMAG
Conf., Paper 27-3.
L. G. Van Uitert,
Dielectric
properties
of and conductivity
in
ferrites,
Proc. IRE,
vol. 44, pp. 12941303,
Ott. 1956.
F. K. Lotgering,
Semiconduction
and cation
valencies
in
manganese
ferrites,
J. Phys. Chem. Solids, vol. 25, pp. 95-103,
1964.
Magnetic-anisotropy
and
magnetostriction
G. F. Dionne,
constants
of substituted
lithium
ferrites
at 300K,
J. Appz.
Phys., vol.
40, pp. 448&4490,
1969.
D. A. Charlton,
LOW cost lithium
ferrite
phase shifter,
in
IEEE
Microwave
Theory and Techniques
Symp. Dig., pp. 98

[16]

3905-3915, 1961.
R. G. West and A. C. Blankenship, Magnetic properties of
343dense lithium ferrites, J. Amer. Ceram. Sot., vol. 50, ~~.
--

TECHNIQUES,

pp. 3451-3454, 1971.

A. J. Pointon and R. C. Saull, Solid-state reactions in lithium

[15]

[12]

AND

T. Collins
microwave

terization of the microwave tensor. permeability of partially

Rome Au Development
Center,
magnetized materials,
1969.
Griffiss AFB, Rome, N. Y., Tech. Rep. RADC-TR-69-93,
and J. J. Green,
TJHF
ferrites
(garnets),
[5] H. J. Van Hook
ECOM,
Ft. Monmouth,
N. J., Tech. Rep. TRECOM-0174-2,
1!a7!2
Behavior
of ferrites
in the microwave
fre[6] E. Schlomann,
quency range,
J. Phys. (Paris),
vol. 32, Colloque
Cl, pp. 443451.1971.
Effect
of external
stress on remanence
ratios
[7] G. F. Dionne,
and anisotropy
fields of magnetic
materials,
IEEE
Trans.
Magn.,
vol. MAG-5,
pp. 596-600,
Sept. 1969.
[8] G. F. Dionne~ P. J. Paull and R. G. West, Compensation
of
magnetostrictlon
effects
m iron garnets
by manganese
addltions,
J. Appl. Phys., vol. 41, p. 1411, 1970.
J. J. Green, F. Euler,
and E. R. Czerlinsky,
[9] H. J. Van Hook,
Linewidth
reduction
thropgh
iridium
substitution
m calcium
vanadium
garnets,
J. Appl.
Phys., vol 39,-pp. 730-731,
1968.
and P. Hansen,
Calcium-vanadium-indium
sub[10] G. Wlnkler
stituted
yttrium-iron-garnets
with
very
low
linewidths
of
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Mater.
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Ferrite
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J. Appl.
Phys., vol. 32, pp.

THEORY

as Alternatives

HE TWO principal
means of providing
electronic control of the phase of microwave
signals are realized by
the diode and the ferrite phase shifters. Both of these circuit approaches have received continuous
and enormous

other. In practice however, although some array antennas

could be designed about either a diode or a ferrite phase
shifter, there cannot be a pair of diode and ferrite phase
shifters
which have identical
behavior.
These two approaches share a common objective,
namely, the steady-

developmental

state

effort

[1]

since about

1960 when the major

Manuscript received December 20, 1973; revised February 10,

1974. This work was supported in part by the Navy Depa~ment
which funded initial development through the Bureau of Ships.
The author k with Microwave Associates, Inc., Burlington, Mass.
,,
01803.

control

of the

relative

phase

between

input

and

output ports. However,

even in this respect, the one way
phase as a function
of frequency
characteristic
is generally cliff erent for the two. Certainly,
each approach has
its own unique character insofar as further requirements
including
power handling
capability,
reciprocity,
switch-