An Operating Intelligent Plasma Antenna

Abstract

Summary form only given. We have developed and demonstrated a prototype for an intelligent plasma antenna. The object is to have an antenna observe a designated transmitter, while disregarding unwanted signals coming in from other azimuth angles. In this way, both unwanted background noise and multi-path reception clutter are reduced. The advantage of a plasma antenna over a scanning mechanical antenna is that the plasma antenna is electrically reconfigurable, can operate at high speeds and has no moving parts. The unit operates at about 2.5 GHz, near the operating frequencies of many cell phones. A ring of plasma tubes operating beyond microwave cut-off surrounds a metal transmitting antenna. A computer de-energizes a plasma tube, causing a lobe of microwave radiation to be emitted. Sequentially de-energizing the plasma tubes causes the radiation lobe to scan in azimuth. When a receiving antenna is detected, the computer ceases scanning, and locks onto the receiving antenna. When the receiving antenna is disconnected, the computer recommences scanning, looking for another receiving antenna.