No abstract

This paper details the work of the LAPLACE Electromagnetism Research Group to develop an original measuring setup dedicated to the detection of an EMDrive like force. Recent peer-reviewed experimental results [1, 2] were obtained using similar setups based on a torsion pendulum combined with an optical sensor. These very accurate measurement setups are appropriate for measuring such an extremely weak force. They also appear costly, which may discourage other research teams from working on this topic. Our main goal is then to provide an alternative configuration, based on a commercial precision balance, in order to build a measuring setup more affordable, handy, and accurate enough to measure an EMDrive like force. Our experimental system is capable of feeding a truncated cone shaped 2.45 GHz resonant cavity with power up to 140 W. To calibrate the EMDrive force and avoid false positive thrusts, an original setup has been proposed and evaluated. It allows us to really consider that the parasitic effects do not alter the hypothetical force measurement by the use of force direction switching during the measurement.

The use of microplasma discharges as power‐induced limiter elements in microstrip devices is proposed to protect receivers against high‐power microwave threats. A microstrip bandpass filter integrating such a microplasma‐based active microwave power limiter has been designed and measured. Power limitation is observed when the input power exceeds 19 dBm with a leakage power of 14 dBm. Due to the gaseous properties of the active medium, the proposed structure exhibits a very low additional insertion loss of 0.06 dB.

In this paper, a contactless microwave transition is described and characterized. In our "ElectroMagnetic Drive" (EMDrive) measuring setup, it will be dedicated to transmit high Radio Frequency (RF) powers without any mechanical effort. It exhibits very good matching and transmission performances. It is found to transmit 100 W microwave power range at 2.45 GHz without any visible mechanical effect on a 10 mg precision balance, contrary to a previous coaxial cable. This device appears useful to every EMDrive setup and can be easily implemented.