STUDY OF ECM ANTENNA OPTIMIZATION
Abstract
The purpose of the program was to use a laboratory reentry plasma simulation technique to study the effect of the plasma sheath on various types of practically realizable ECM vehicle antennas. Measurements on the effects of a conical plasma sheath on two orthogonally oriented slot antennas flush-mounted on the surface of a conical vehicle model were made. The antenna patterns show strong interference effects and signal attenuation on the order of 30 db. The impedance is also observed to undergo an appreciable change for high power but constant pressure. The greatest change in input impedance is produced by an RF sustained plasma at the antenna aperture at high power. The plasma sheath produced a maximum VSWR of 4.5 indicating that the major loss of power was due to absorption in the plasma. The RF sustained plasma produced a maximum VSWR of 7.8. Developments in progress to extend the operating range of the simulator are described. The analytical problem of determining the input impedance and radiation field pattern of a slot antenna on the surface of an infinite conducting cone covered by a plasma sheath is formulated.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 20, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0818448
Entities
People
- Edward Rolfe
- John G. Weiss
- Phillip F. Sforza
- Surendra N. Samaddar
Organizations
- RTX