Radiofrequency attenuator and method

US7479843B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC · US

Inventors

• Benjamin P. Warner · Los Alamos, US
• T. Mark McCleskey · Los Alamos, US
• Anthony K. Burrell · Los Alamos, US
• Anoop Agrawal · Tucson, US
• Simon Hall · Palmerston North City, NZ

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 16, 2004
• Grant date: Jan 20, 2009
• Expiry date: Mar 1, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/1359
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Radiofrequency attenuator and method. The attenuator includes a pair of transparent windows. A chamber between the windows is filled with molten salt. Preferred molten salts include quarternary ammonium cations and fluorine-containing anions such as tetrafluoroborate (BF4−), hexafluorophosphate (PF6−), hexafluoroarsenate (AsF6−), trifluoromethylsulfonate (CF3SO3−), bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ((CF3SO2)2N−), bis(perfluoroethylsulfonyl)imide ((CF3CF2SO2)2N−) and tris(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)methide ((CF3SO2)3C−). Radicals or radical cations may be added to or electrochemically generated in the molten salt to enhance the RF attenuation.