Multi-Function Adjustable Antenna using Plasma Radiation for Weather Monitoring

Abstract

Plasma is the fourth state of matter. It is a common state of matter where almost of the universe in a plasma state and it can be found on earth naturally or artificially. The advantages of using plasma antenna are it is invisible to radar, no ringing effect, more efficient, dynamically reconfigurable and has fast transmission. The aim for this study is to investigate the effect of winds and humidity on radio signal using plasma antenna as an alternative to the conventional metal antenna. This research used two different type of commercial fluorescent lamps which are tubular (cylinder) and 2U-shape as plasma antenna. Thus, this kind of antenna can be considered as multi-function as it is originally a light source. The plasma antenna parameters such as return loss, gain and radiation pattern were characterized. In order to realize that, plasma parameters i.e., plasma and collision frequencies need to be obtained. The electrical properties measurement need to be done to record the values of current and voltage, then were used in GLOMAC programming to calculate the plasma parameters. The next stage was the simulation of plasma antenna using CST software. The last stage is signal strength experiment to get the value for radio signal strength received by plasma antenna. Then, the value of radio signal strength in against time was recorded. From the results, as the wind speed over time decreases, the power level decreases and vice versa. From the simulation results, the radiation pattern for tubular and 2U can be categorized as omni-directional pattern. Generally, good correlation was accomplished to prove the wind speed and humidity effect on radio signal using plasma antenna.