High-$Q$ Resonant Energy Selective Surface Based on Plasma

In this paper, a plasma-based Energy selective surface (ESS) is proposed for high-power microwave (HPM) threat protection. The proposed design leverages the formation of plasma, generated by the induced electric field from HPM, to selectively absorb electromagnetic (EM) energy. The proposed structure incorporates a high-efficiency frequency selective surface (FSS), implemented using substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) technology, and gas discharge tubes (GDTs). Two design variants are presented, one optimized for broadband performance and the other for a narrowband operation. The selective energy absorption is achieved by creating plasma within the GDTs, positioned on the top layer of the unit cell. Simulation results demonstrate excellent isolation performance as the incoming power increases, with an insertion loss exceeding 10 dB in both unit cell designs across the targeted frequency band. This design presents excellent potential for applications requiring dynamic control over wave propagation in high-power EM environments.