An operating intelligent plasma antenna
Ted Anderson, I. Alexeff, E. Farshi, Naresh Karnam, Eric Pius Pradeep, Nanditha Reddy Pulasani, Jeff Peck · 2007 16th IEEE International Pulsed Power Conference · 2007
We have developed and demonstrated a prototype for an intelligent plasma antenna. Circular plasma tubes have been used. Both unwanted background noise and multi-path reception clutter are reduced. 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. In addition we have demonstrated the opening of a plasma microwave barrier in microseconds, and the intercepting of microwave radiation independent of polrization in plasma tubes.