What are Waveguide Pressure Windows?

Waveguide Pressure Windows are a type of seal used to prevent contaminants (moisture, dirt and dust) from entering a waveguide system, or to isolate pressurized sections of a waveguide from non-pressurized sections in a system. For example they can be used to seal waveguides when pressurization or inert gas filling is required.

Waveguide pressure windows enable the signal to pass through but block atmospheric gasses or contaminants from getting through. They can also increase the power-handling capacity of a waveguide based system. They are used in a wide range of applications including gas discharge and power tubes, sealing the antenna systems, resonant cavities, and ferrite components. 

Waveguide pressure windows sizes are approved by the Electronic Industry Alliance (EIA) and are available for most common waveguide sizes.

There are different various types of waveguide pressure windows available, some examples are:

• Standard waveguide windows: These windows provide isolation between vacuum environment and normal atmosphere. 
• Double-ridged waveguide windows: These windows are used to increase the power handling capacity and prevent corrosion in high humidity and dusty conditions by isolating a section of transmission line from the environment. 

The windows are made of different types of materials based on the applications. Some materials used for Waveguide pressure windows are:

• Glass reinforced PTFE windows: Suitable for pressures up to 40 psi.
• Kapton windows: Suitable for pressures up to 7 psi.
• Quartz windows: Suitable for very high power or high pressure differential requirements.