Microwave binstability in a planar ferrite-piezoelectric resonator

Bistability in a planar resonator containing an iron-yttrium garnet ferrite film and a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) plate is studied. The characteristics of the bistable resonator are measured in a frequency band of 0.8–16 GHz at an excitation power level ranging from 1 to 20 mW. Magnetic and electric tuning of the resonator frequency and switching of the resonator between stable states with the use of weak magnetic (∼0.5 Oe) and electric (0.75 kV/cm) fields are demonstrated. It is shown that, as the excitation power increases, the resonator’s switching time decreases from ∼1.7 to ∼0.3 μs.