Antenna Extended with a Laser Induced Plasma
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsDaniel Howard Muhleman, Alexandru Hening
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An antenna extender and an antenna extended with a laser induced includes a laser source and an antenna feed. The laser source is capable of emitting a laser beam along an axis with sufficient power to produce a laser induced plasma in an atmosphere along the axis of the laser beam. The antenna feed extends along the axis for coupling between a radiofrequency signal and the laser induced plasma. The antenna feed extended with the laser induced plasma has an enhanced radiation efficiency for the radiofrequency signal that is greater than the antenna feed that is not extended and has a stub radiation efficiency for the radiofrequency signal when the laser source is deactivated and does not emit the laser beam.
Claims20
An antenna extender comprising:
- a laser source for emitting a laser beam along an axis with sufficient power to produce a laser induced plasma in an atmosphere along the axis of the laser beam;
- and
- an antenna feed extending along the axis for coupling between a radiofrequency signal and the laser induced plasma, wherein the antenna feed extended with the laser induced plasma has an enhanced radiation efficiency for the radiofrequency signal that is greater than the antenna feed that is not extended and has a stub radiation efficiency for the radiofrequency signal when the laser source is deactivated and does not emit the laser beam.
An antenna comprising:
- a laser source emitting a laser beam along an axis with sufficient power to produce a laser induced plasma in an atmosphere along the axis of the laser beam;
- and
- an antenna feed extending along the axis and coupling between a radiofrequency signal and the laser induced plasma, wherein the antenna feed extended with the laser induced plasma has an enhanced radiation efficiency for the radiofrequency signal as compared with the antenna feed alone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.