RF connector, high power power supply

High-power coaxial cables balance electrical properties with mechanical and thermal properties to ensure maximum power transfer efficiency and reliability. Combined with optimized connector design, high-power interconnects bring loss and high thermal performance.
Most common high-power RF applications involve high levels of continuous wave (CW) energy. When power is transmitted through cable assemblies, insertion losses are converted into heat that is dissipated from the cables and connectors, resulting in inefficiencies and increased system operating temperatures.
Although often referred to as high-power applications, these applications usually cover high current, high voltage and high power.

Wafer Manufacturing Equipment

The Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and connected cars have created demand for semiconductors. Wafer manufacturing equipment requires high-power coaxial components as interconnections.

Industrial Rf Energy

Radio frequency energy is used in the industrial field, for plasma processing (commonly used in the semiconductor/materials industry, plasma cleaning, etching, coating, relying on RF energy to stimulate plasma), lighting, heating, and chemical and food processing.

Directed Energy Weapons

From fixed ground installations to mobile warships, directed energy weapons (DEWs) rely on reliable high-power radio frequency cables and connectors.

High Energy Physics

Particle accelerators are crucial in high-energy physics research and require miles of coaxial cables to connect their components.

High Current

High currents are common in industrial applications such as semiconductors. High currents may be close to the melting current of conductors, or create "hot spots" due to high-resistance contacts. High-current applications are mainly limited by resistance. Challenges with high currents include carrying capacity that directly contributes to the cross-sectional area of the conductor, and small contact areas that can create localized high-resistance areas that limit the capacity of even large conductors. To solve these challenges, select cables with sufficiently low conductor resistance, limit the number of subcomponents, and use large-area contact points.

High Pressure

High voltages exist in energy storage applications for high power and fractional duty cycle applications. Voltage coverage and partial discharge failures can lead to carbonization of the conductive path, causing catastrophic failures. High-voltage applications are mainly limited by spacing and dielectric strength. Challenges with high voltages include the dielectric operating voltage (DWV), the "line-of-sight" path between conductors, and voids and material defects. To solve these challenges, high-pressure systems should be designed to include overlapping dielectric components and plan for suitable materials with sufficient thickness.

High Power

High power is often found in the aerospace field, such as electronic warfare countermeasures. The most common problems are thermal management and excess energy dissipation caused by signal attenuation. High-power applications are mainly limited by heat dissipation capabilities. Challenges with high power include parts that must be able to dissipate faster than heat is generated, and material temperature is an issue. To solve these challenges, choose cables with lower attenuation because this means lower dissipation requirements. Also plan for large surface areas, high thermal conductivity, high emissivity and convective airflow.