Method and apparatus for optical filament launch
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsJames R. Wood, Mark K. Browder
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention, in its various aspects and embodiments, comprises a method and apparatus for an optical filament launch. In one aspect, the present invention generates a plurality of plasma filaments defining a radio frequency propagation path. In a second aspect, the present invention generates a pulsed plasma filament RF transmission line.
Claims21
A method, comprising generating a plurality of plasma filaments defining a radio frequency transmission line through an ambient atmosphere.
An apparatus comprising a radio frequency transmission line defined by a plurality of plasma filaments through an ambient atmosphere.
An apparatus comprising:
- a radio frequency waveguide defining an exit aperture;
- and
- means for generating an optically steered and optically generated plasma filament transmission line structure comprised of a plurality of plasma filaments, the transmission line structure having an optical axis of steering pivoted around the end points of the radio frequency waveguide defining the exit aperture.
A method, comprising generating a pulsed plasma filament radio frequency transmission line through an ambient atmosphere.
An radio frequency transmission line comprised of a pulsed plasma filament defined radio frequency transmission line through an ambient atmosphere.
An apparatus, comprising:
- means for generating a pulsed optical signal to ionize an ambient atmosphere and define a radio frequency transmission line;
- and
- a radio frequency transmitter capable of transmitting an radio frequency signal in synchronicity with the pulses of the optical signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.