Operational Characteristics of a Plasma Antenna

Through a combination of S-Parameter measurements, radiation patterns, and surface wave excitation measurements, we present a comprehensive picture of the operational characteristics of a laboratory prototype plasma antenna. It is shown that the current is driven along the plasma column by surface waves, which lead to a broad band absorption of input signal power and directly is reflected in the measurements of the transmitted radiation pattern. The plasma antenna is observed to operate over a much broader range of frequency compared to a metal antenna of similar dimensions. These experimental results should provide a much more coherent picture of how this device operates.