Systems and methods for communicating and sensing through plasma

A method for communicating through a plasma sheath formed on a vehicle, the method comprising:

• disposing a matching layer on at least a portion of a communication device of the vehicle;
• generating, by the matching layer, a resonant frequency in relation to the plasma sheath;
• and
• generating, by a modulator, one or more electromagnetic waves that modulate the resonant frequency.

A hypersonic vehicle comprising:

• a system for communicating through a plasma sheath formed on the hypersonic vehicle, the system comprising:
• a communication device;
• a matching layer disposed on at least a portion of the communication device, wherein the matching layer is a layer of electrically insulating material, wherein the matching layer is configured to generate a resonant frequency in relation to the plasma sheath, and wherein the matching layer is disposed between the communication device and an outer portion of the vehicle;
• a modulator configured to generate one or more electromagnetic waves that modulate the resonant frequency;
• and
• a control unit configured to operate the modulator to modulate the resonant frequency,
• wherein the communication device is configured to one or both of transmit or receive one or more communication signals at one or more zero crossings.