Generation of Large Area, Sheet Plasma Mirrors for Redirecting High Frequency Microwave Beams

Abstract

Large area, planar, sheet plasma mirrors have been generated with electron densities high enough to reflect X-band microwave beams. The $50\mathrm{cm}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}60\mathrm{cm}$ negative glow plasmas operate in air and other gases at $\ensuremath{\sim}100$ mTorr. These plasmas are immersed in an axial magnetic field of moderate strength (150--250 G), and they may be capable of being rapidly steered. The cathode which generates these sheet plasmas operates in a mode that appears to be distinctly different from the abnormal glow and hollow cathode modes.