Superconducting Antennas: What Can They Do for the Navy?

Abstract

ABSTRACT In situations where a limited platform size forces the use of electrically small antennas (especially 30 Mhz–3 GHz), superconducting antennas can increase gain performance by up to 10dB. Both superconducting electrically small half loops and spirals have shown significant increases in performance over their normal metal counterparts. Additionally, compact arrays, such as a multi function array or GPS anti‐jam arrays, where mutual coupling between elements increases loss can benefit from superconducting elements as well.Ongoing progress in the areas of high quality, large area high temperature superconducting (HTS) thin film and multilayer growth, including frequency agile materials such as the perovskite ferroelectrics, has opened the doors for producing superconducting antennas which could be used in the fleet. The development of cost effective small cryogenic coolers has also made superconducting antennas a viable technology.This paper will review both the fundamental RF properties of high temperature superconductors (HTS) and demonstrations of increased performance by superconducting antennas. Conditions requiring a superconducting antenna, examples of possible systems and industry's ability to produce them will be discussed. Superconductivity is a viable technology ready for incorporation into appropriate Naval RF systems.