An antenna system using a plasma column having a central conductor and excited by a co-axial line†

Abstract

The radiation pattern of an open-ended co-axial line excited in the TEM mode in a plasma column having a central conductor along the axis is studied. The field distribution at the open-end cross-section of the co-axial line is assumed to be equivalent to the vector sum of magnetic current rings of various radii, ranging from the outer radius of the inner conductor to the inner radius of the outer conductor of the co-axial line at the open end. The radiation field is obtained as a vector sum of field components duo to individual rings of magnetic current. This type of configuration gives rise to a veil-enhanced radiation peak near and before the critical angle. The amplitude of the radiation peak depends upon the dimensions of the plasma column, the diameter of the central conductor and the inner diameter of the outer conductor of the coaxial line at the open end. Its direction can be changed by changing the plasma density. Based upon these results it is proposed to develop an electronically scannable narr...