Y-type hexagonal ferrite-based band-pass filter with dual magnetic and electric field tunability

This work is on the design, fabrication and characterization of a hexagonal ferrite band-pass filter that can be tuned either with a magnetic field or an electric field. The filter operation is based on a straight-edge Y-type hexagonal ferrite resonator symmetrically coupled to the input and output microstrip transmission lines. The Zn(2)Yfilter demonstrated magnetic field tunability in the 8-12 GHz frequency range by applying an in-plane bias magnetic field H-0 provided by a built-in permanent magnet. The insertion loss and 3 dB bandwidth within this band were 8.6 +/- 0.4 dB and 350 +/- 40 MHz, respectively. The electric field E tunability of the pass-band of the device was facilitated by the nonlinear magnetoelectric effect (NLME) in the ferrite. The E-tuning of the center frequency of the filter by (1150 +/- 90) MHz was obtained for an input DC electric power of 200 mW. With efforts directed at a significant reduction in the insertion loss, the compact and power efficient magnetic and electric field tunable Zn2Y band-pass filter has the potential for use in novel reconfigurable RF/microwave devices and communication systems.

Automated summary

This work focuses on the design and fabrication of a hexagonal ferrite band-pass filter that can be tuned using either a magnetic field or an electric field. The filter achieves magnetic field tunability within the 8-12 GHz frequency range, and electric field tunability through the nonlinear magnetoelectric effect in the ferrite. With efforts to reduce insertion loss, the compact and power efficient filter has potential applications in reconfigurable RF/microwave devices and communication systems.