IDENTIFICATION OF KEY ISSUES Key Technological Issues Microwave Generation, Transmission, and Rectification. — The following issues are significant for the SSPS development. a. Technology Investigations The microwave portion of the electromagnetic spectrum is the most useful for the SSPS power generation, transmission, and rectification. Approaches to generate, transmit, and rectify power in other major segments of the spectrum must be assessed, and the investigation must be documented so that data will be available for national and international discussions and negotiations leading to frequency allocation for the SSPS. The requirements placed upon the technology of a microwave power system in terms of high efficiency, long life, light-weight, and low cost present significant technical challenges. Fortunately, there are a large number of design resources in the form of systems technology, materials technology, and device technology which can be applied to meet these challenges. Table 19 summarizes the various design resources which can be used to meet the requirements placed on microwave power transmission in the SSPS. Major areas of work (Table 20) have been identified which constitute the issues in the generation, transmission, and rectification of microwaves. The table presents a status statement for each area of work as well as its development goal and the basis for assuming what can be achieved. Development goals and technology investigations to achieve the required improvements can be identified. From a systems point of view, the major item is a detailed investigation of approaches for implementing the adaptive array principle. Such an investigation implies a study of the details of the subanay and the means of establishing the phase reference under steady-state as well as transient conditions. From a device point of view, the major items are related to the performance characteristics of the Amplitron. Many of these performance characteristics are related to the unique requirements of the SSPS application and are not easily derived from terrestrial application experience. The demonstration of a high dc-to-dc microwave system efficiency in the laboratory can be achieved with modest effort to establish the credibility of efficient microwave power transmission. Specific technological investigations are listed below: • Demonstrate high efficiency dc-to-dc microwave power transmission, • Investigate approaches to implementing the adaptive array principle,
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