Experimental Characterization and Simulation of a Dipole Plasma Antenna for VHF Band and Effect of Ar–Ne Gas Composition

A plasma antenna, diverging from the conventional metal conductors, operates using noble gases. This study encompassed simulations and experiments on both dipole plasma antennas and dipole metal antennas operating within the very high frequency (VHF) band. The plasma dipole antenna configuration comprises two specially designed plasma sources positioned as the arms of a standard metal dipole. Initially, simulations were conducted to determine the plasma parameters and calculate the dielectric permittivity. The gas-filled plasma tube was energized by directly connecting it to the electrodes via an ac power supply (10 kV, 30 mA). Experimental and simulated results for return loss, gain, and impedance were presented for both the dipole plasma antenna and the dipole metal antenna. The findings indicate superior impedance, voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR), and gain characteristics in the dipole plasma antenna compared with its metal counterpart. In addition, the rapid on/off functionality of plasma antennas, unachievable with metal antennas, renders them particularly appealing for stealth applications like radar systems.