As a spin-off of our researches in the frame of RF plasma thruster, we have been developing since 2013 plasma antennas. Gaseous Plasma Antennas (GPAs) use plasma instead of metal to receive/transmit EM waves. Plasma can be controlled electronically to vary the antenna frequency of operation and to steer the beam. When plasma is turned off, the antenna becomes invisible to incoming EM waves. GPAs are suitable for stealth communications and to decrease interferences.
Potential applications are many:
• Antennas for Multiple Input Multiple Output systems – Turning off the plasma, the unused elements do not interfere with elements in proximity. Frequency range 300 Mhz-1Ghz
• Navigation and GPS – Electronically steerable antennas. Frequency range 300 MHz – 2GHz
• Urban 5G – Turning off the plasma, the unused elements do not interfere with elements in proximity. Frequency range 300 Mhz-1Ghz
• Multi-band antennas -The frequency of operation can be varied electronically. Frequency range 300 MHz – 2GHz
• Intelligent reflective surface – Exploiting plasma as passive element to control the direction of the reflected beam. Frequency range up to 15 GHz
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- Metal antenna using plasma For beam stearing Frequency range Up to 1.6 GHz
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- Quadrupole antenna using plasma as active element up to 450 MHz
