International Journal of Recent Development in Engineering and Technology

Website: www.ijrdet.com (ISSN 2347-6435(Online) Volume 8, Issue 4, April 2019)

A Study on Plasma Antenna

I. INTRODUCTION
A column of ionized gas when use to radiated or receive
electro-magnetic signal, then it is said to be a Plasma
antenna. Plasma antennas are the future of antennas. This
article reviews the current status of plasma antennas.
Revelation of plasma as an antenna is done in 1917, by J.
Hettinger suggested that long beam of ionized or ionizing
medium can be used to radiate and to receive wireless Figure 1: Picture of proposed ionized beam Aerial[1]
signals [1]. Here in after referred to as the “ionized beam
Ariel”. In the 1960s, Askar’yan [2] proved this prediction There some important research had been done
by experiments. Kang W L, Rader M, and Alexe I in 1996, throughout the past decade.The length of the plasma
IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science, Boston column increases as the square root of the applied power
demonstrated a construction of an antenna with a glass tube [5]. So by increasing power it is possible to control its
filled with low pressure gas [3]. Then after measurements effective length as well as antenna resonant frequency.
of Efficiency and Radiation patterns of plasma column Different from copper antenna, the characteristics of a
antenna had been developed by Gerard G. Borg and Jeffrey plasma antenna vary simultaneously with plasma frequency
H. Harris in 1999 [4]. and collision frequency and this property can be used to
Characteristics of the plasma antenna largely depend on construct dynamically reconfigurable antenna [6]. Array
the behavior of an electromagnetic wave propagating in Plasma Antenna, length and number of elements can be
plasma. In the 21st century there are so many experiments controlled by the operating parameters such as input power,
had done for its characterization. In between 1999 to 2002 working pressure [7]. Innovative range of selectable Multi-
T.R.Anderson, Igor Alexeff, J. H. Harris, G. G. Borg and Beam antenna, Smart Plasma Antenna, Stacked Plasma
some other eminent scientist patented some of the plasma Antenna Arrays and High directivity Antenna are in row of
antenna. Now Plasma Antenna is capable of both the development. They will meet exact demands in today’s
transmission and reception. wireless communication sector, defence and security
markets.

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 International Journal of Recent Development in Engineering and Technology
Website: www.ijrdet.com (ISSN 2347-6435(Online) Volume 8, Issue 4, April 2019)
II. BASIC OPERATION Defence: Plasma elements can be energized and de-
Procedure to operate Plasma antenna is first fill the energized in microseconds. When de-energized, the
neutral gas (e.g. Argon) in the vacant glass tube. At some Plasma antenna behaves as a dielectric tube, which has a
fix pressure sealed the tube; a care for the pressure should small radar scattering cross section. So it will be difficult
be taken sufficiently less than glass breakdown pressure. to detect by hostile radar.
Connect a non thermal plasma generation power source Satellite Communication: Satellites are equipped with
example RF and Microwave discharge. At lower Phased array antenna, and it requires fast beam focusing
frequencies, the ions accelerated in the field move towards and steering. The plasma antenna can steer very fast
the electrodes and produce secondary electrons, similar to using power control.
what happens in a dc discharge. As the frequency increases, Protection from EMP: Plasma Antenna having lower
the ions and subsequently also the electrons can no longer plasma frequency is transparent for higher frequencies.
reach the electrode surface during the acceleration phase of In the electronic-warfare, dangerous signal can pass
the exciting external field [8]. Connect a signal source or through the antenna without interfering its transmission
the receiver probe with coupling sleeves over the glass tube and reception. So this antenna is safe in electronic
of plasma antenna, it is better to use a good conductor as a warfare.
coupling sleeves. Take care of the distance between Mechanical Robustness: If the plasma antennas are
coupling sleeves and power source arrangement. By composed of flexible fiber tubes and if the fiber tubes
controlling applied power vary the effective length of will more heat resistive for plasma heat than it can be
plasma column, and thus get the desired result. used as a portable antenna.
By changing the operating parameters, as working
pressure, source frequency, input power, radius of glass IV. CONCLUSION
tube, length of plasma column, and neutral gas, effective Using non thermal plasma source and neutral gas filled
length and efficiency of plasma antenna should be change tube, it is possible to make an agile antenna. Plasma
antenna can do better in star exploration where weight of
the product has to lift up from the earth’s surface should be
under limit.
REFERENCES
[1] Hettinger J, 1919, U.S. Patent No. 1309031
[2] G A Askaryan, 1965, Sov. Phys. Tech. Phys.
[3] W L Kang et al, M Rader, I Alexe, 1996, Proceedings of the IEEE
International Conference on Plasma Science, Boston, 3-5, p 261.
[4] G. G. Borg et al, J. H. Harris, N. M. Martin,D. Thorncraft, R.
Milliken, D.G. Miljak, B. Kwan, T. Ng, and J. Kircher, 2000,
Plasmas as antennas: Theory, experiment and applications, Physics
Of Plasmas, Volume 7,Number 5.
[5] John Phillip Rayner et al, Adrian Philip Whichello, and Andrew
Desmond Cheetham, 2004, Physical Characteristics of Plasma
Antennas, IEEE Transactions On Plasma Science, VOL. 32, NO. 1.
Experiments has also carried out on Fluorescent tube as [6] LIANG Chao et al, XU Yue-Min, WANG Zhi-Jiang, 2008,
a Plasma Antenna and shown the simplest model of plasma Numerical Simulation of Plasma Antenna with FDTD Method,
antenna. Using this model it has shown that Frequency Chines Physics Letter,Vol. 25, No. 10.
above 200Hz are enough to get stable plasma state in [7] Rajneesh Kumar, Dhiraj Bora, 2010, A reconfigurable plasma
Plasma column, and to use it as a Plasma Antenna. antenna,Journal Of Applied Physics.
[8] H Conrads, M Schmidt, 2000, Plasma generation and plasma
sources,Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 9.
III. APPLICATIONS
[9] V Kumar et al, M Mishra, N K Joshi, 2011, Study of a fluorescent
Mobile Communication: Fast switching of working tube as Plasma antenna, Progress In Electromagnetics Research
frequency is the need of mobile communication. In Letters, Vol. 24,Page 17-26.
plasma antenna fast switching antenna power is possible,
and results in change in effective length and frequency at
very high speed.
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