Effect of Plasma Parameters on Monopole Plasma Antenna Performance

Abstract

The research is focused on determining the plasma parameters such as electron temperature and density, and plasma and collision frequencies, that can be applied on plasma antenna simulation. From the characteristics of plasma parameters obtained, the antenna parameters are then investigated. The Ar-Hg discharge tube is used, and energized by using a high voltage power supply. The plasma parameters are obtained by using numerical programming namely Glomac based on the different voltage, current, pressure and size diameter of the discharge tube. Plasma antenna parameters are characterized by using Computer Simulation Technology (CST) software with different plasma frequency, gas pressure, tube size and material used to analyze the antenna performance. The plasma and collision frequencies are calculated based on the plasma parameter obtained from Glomac programming. It shows that the electron temperature decrease while electron density increase when the current is increased. The gas pressure and diameter of tubes are also influences the plasma parameters. From CST simulation, the antenna's performance can be analyzed in terms of return loss, resonant frequency, bandwidth, gain, and radiation pattern. The plasma frequency increase when the electron density increases. By changing the plasma frequency, gas pressure and tube diameter, the antenna performance can be improved in particular at their return loss, gain, directivity and conductivity. In addition, the efficiency of the plasma column as a radiating element is related to the conductivity of the plasma. From this study, the characteristics of the monopole plasma antenna is investigated and evaluated.