Cheap, Ceramic thin film radar

Tweet A thin magnetic ceramic film eliminates the need for circulators -- heavy and expensive device integral to a lot of radar technology. Traditionally, circulator designs have relied on large and heavy magnets that add significant cost to the technology.

Thousands of the magnets are required for the most advanced radar systems and, as a result, radar platforms can weigh several tons and take up an inordinate amount of space.

The new material possesses a spontaneous magnetic moment sufficient to eliminate the need for magnets. It is millimeter-thick films of Ba-hexaferrite. It is produced using a screen printing processing scheme that meets all the necessary specifications for radar performance and is, in addition, highly cost-effective.