FDTD Approach for the Characterization of Electromagnetic Wave Propagation in Plasma for Application to Plasma Antennas

The paper presents the result of a research about a new technology of antenna, called “plasma antenna”, whose properties are very different from standard metallic antennas. Such antennas are constructed by insulating tubes filled with low pressure gases ionized by applying proper RF power so that plasma is rapidly created and destroyed. Plasma is generated and sustained by an electromagnetic wave, so the knowledge of the interaction mechanism between plasma and field is the key point to characterize antenna. Therefore, the goal of the study is the development of a self-consistent model of the propagation of an electromagnetic wave into a plasma region. (6 pages)