N.S. Maksimov1, A.R. Safin2

1,2 National Research University “Moscow Power Engineering Institute” (Moscow, Russia)

2 Kotelnikov Institute of Radioengineering and Electronics of Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow, Russia)

1 Nik.maximovv@yandex.ru; 2 arsafin@gmail.com

Devices based on YIG resonators have been the subject of research for the last 50 years. In recent years, there has been significant progress in the development of technologies for YIG oscillators, associated with the introduction of new approaches in device design and improvements in their operational characteristics. Currently, a number of reviews [2-10] have been published, focusing on both YIG filters and YIG oscillators, aimed at the Russian-speaking audience and highlighting the current level of research and development in this field, the difficulties encountered in design, and the characteristics of certain YIG oscillators from different manufacturers. However, many issues regarding the comparison of characteristics of YIG oscillators from different manufacturers (power, phase noise, dimensions), trends, problems, and prospects have not been thoroughly covered. This work examines several designs of YIG oscillators, specifically the typical schemes of YIG oscillators built on the reflective principle based on spheres, as well as ring schemes. Recently, the ring scheme based on YIG film has been increasingly applied, particularly in scientific research [5]. Both schemes have their positive and negative aspects. The undeniable advantage of the ring scheme is its relative simplicity in design, calculation of characteristics, and tuning of generators. Additionally, ring generators generally exhibit better noise characteristics due to the high gain of the microwave amplifiers used, allowing the use of high-loaded quality factor blocks. Consequently, the minimum possible level of phase noise in the signal generated in such a system is determined by the signal delay time within the active ring, the thermal noise of the device, and the frequency of flicker noise from the active element. The first generators using microwave amplifiers appeared in the 1990s (see, for example, [8]), which describe the study of the impact of signal delay time within the microwave resonators on the phase noise spectrum of a spin-wave generator, particularly the reduction of noise levels compared to generators based on YIG spheres. In [9], a similar design is described, but the dependence of phase noise on the type of transmitting and receiving antennas below the YIG waveguide is investigated. The widths of the antennas and the distance between the antenna elements were 50 and 260 micrometers, respectively. The parameters of the examined devices, compared to similar products from other developers, indicate that YIG oscillators have firmly established their positions in the sector of widely tunable oscillators. Currently, numerous scientific teams worldwide are working on improving the characteristics of prototypes of generators operating on unique technologies that are not produced in series. Various tunable microwave devices can be created based on spin-wave elements, including switches, delay lines, filters, phase shifters, microwave logic elements, etc. [17].

Maksimov N.S., Safin A.R. Yttrium Iron Garnet-based oscillators: problems and perspectives. Radiotekhnika. 2025. V. 89. № 11. P. 106−114. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18127/j00338486-202511-11 (In Russian)

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