Lightsaber-like plasma beam antenna is tuned by laser
When most people picture an antenna, they think of a slim metal rod, whether the thin, extendable rod on a portable FM radio or the towering structures used for radio and television broadcasting. In reality, antennas come in all shapes and sizes, from round parabolic dishes to conductive patterns printed onto circuit boards. However, whatever shape they take, they are typically solid structures. In work that would delight any Star Wars fan, scientists have now created an antenna from a plasma beam.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have demonstrated a laser-generated plasma antenna that can transmit radio waves at 30 MHz. The proof-of-concept technology could allow engineers to create antennas of different lengths and orientations simply by adjusting a laser, eliminating the need for bulky mechanical antenna deployment systems.
“The plasma beam antenna looks like a lightsaber and is tunable, meaning we should be able to transmit across a...
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