Reconfigurable electromagnetic plasma waveguide used as a phase shifter and a horn antenna
First Claim
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1. A phase shifting plasma electromagnetic waveguide, comprising:
- a) an elongated non-conductive enclosure defining a propagation path therein for directional electromagnetic wave propagation, wherein a metal sleeve does not surround the enclosure;
b) a composition contained within the enclosure capable of forming a plasma, said plasma when formed having a skin depth along a surface within the enclosure such that the electromagnetic waves penetrate the skin depth and are primarily propagated directionally along the path;
c) an energy source for energizing the composition to form the plasma;
d) an energy modifying medium to modify the density of the plasma such that electromagnetic waves of various speeds may be propagated directionally along the path; and
e) a discontinuity in the waveguide such that said electromagnetic waves may be radiated.
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Abstract
Phase shifting plasma electromagnetic waveguides and plasma electromagnetic coaxial waveguides, as well as plasma waveguide horn antennas, each of which can be reconfigurable, durable, stealth, and flexible are disclosed. Optionally, an energy modifying medium to reconfigure the waveguide such that electromagnetic waves of various wavelengths or speeds can be propagated directionally along the path can be used. Similarly, these waveguides may be modified into coaxial configurations.
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Citations
66 Claims
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1. A phase shifting plasma electromagnetic waveguide, comprising:
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a) an elongated non-conductive enclosure defining a propagation path therein for directional electromagnetic wave propagation, wherein a metal sleeve does not surround the enclosure;
b) a composition contained within the enclosure capable of forming a plasma, said plasma when formed having a skin depth along a surface within the enclosure such that the electromagnetic waves penetrate the skin depth and are primarily propagated directionally along the path;
c) an energy source for energizing the composition to form the plasma;
d) an energy modifying medium to modify the density of the plasma such that electromagnetic waves of various speeds may be propagated directionally along the path; and
e) a discontinuity in the waveguide such that said electromagnetic waves may be radiated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 56)
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5. A phase shifting plasma electromagnetic waveguide, comprising:
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a) an elongated non-conductive enclosure defining a propagation path therein for directional electromagnetic wave propagation, wherein a metal sleeve does not surround the enclosure;
b) a composition contained within the enclosure capable of forming a plasma, said plasma when formed having a skin depth along a surface within the enclosure such that the electromagnetic waves penetrate the skin depth and are primarily propagated directionally along the path;
c) an energy source for energizing the composition to form the plasma;
d) an energy modifying medium to modify the density of the plasma such that electromagnetic waves of various speeds may be propagated directionally along the path, wherein the energy modifying medium also alters the skin depth of the plasma. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A phase shifting plasma electromagnetic waveguide, comprising:
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a) an elongated non-conductive enclosure defining a propagation path therein for directional electromagnetic wave propagation, wherein a metal sleeve does not surround the enclosure;
b) a composition contained within the enclosure capable of forming a plasma, said plasma when formed having a skin depth along a surface within the enclosure such that the electromagnetic waves penetrate the skin depth and are primarily propagated directionally along the path;
c) an energy source for energizing the composition to form the plasma; and
d) an energy modifying medium to modify the density of the plasma such that electromagnetic waves of various speeds may be propagated directionally along the path, wherein said enclosure further comprises a first open end and a second open end, said first open end and said second open end being connected by a channel, said channel being configured along the direction of wave propagation such that the electromagnetic waves penetrate the skin depth and travel within the channel. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A plasma electromagnetic waveguide horn antenna comprising:
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a) an elongated non-conductive enclosure defining a propagation path for directional electromagnetic wave propagation;
b) a horn antenna structure electromagnetically coupled to the enclosure for emitting electromagnetic waves;
c) a composition contained within the elongated enclosure capable of forming a plasma, said plasma when formed having a skin depth along a surface within the enclosure such that the electromagnetic waves penetrate the skin depth and are primarily propagated directionally along the path in the direction of the horn antenna; and
d) an energy source for energizing the composition to form the plasma. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A phase shifting plasma electromagnetic waveguide, comprising:
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a) an elongated non-conductive enclosure defining a propagation path therein for directional electromagnetic wave propagation, wherein a metal sleeve does not surround the enclosure;
b) a composition contained within the enclosure capable of forming a plasma, said plasma when formed having a skin depth along a surface within the enclosure such that the electromagnetic waves penetrate the skin depth and are primarily propagated directionally along the path;
c) an energy source for energizing the composition to form the plasma;
d) an energy modifying medium to modify the density of the plasma such that electromagnetic waves of various speeds may be propagated directionally along the path;
e) a signal generator in electrical contact with the plasma for generating electromagnetic waves to be propagated along the path; and
f) a signal receiver in electrical contact with the plasma for receiving the electromagnetic waves generated by the signal generator and propagated along the path, wherein the signal generator and the signal receiver are positioned at opposite ends of the enclosure along the direction of electromagnetic wave propagation. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A phase shifting plasma electromagnetic waveguide, comprising:
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a) an elongated non-conductive enclosure defining a propagation path therein for directional electromagnetic wave propagation, wherein a metal sleeve does not surround the enclosure;
b) a composition contained within the enclosure capable of forming a plasma, said plasma when formed having a skin depth along a surface within the enclosure such that the electromagnetic waves penetrate the skin depth and are primarily propagated directionally along the path;
c) an energy source for energizing the composition to form the plasma;
d) an energy modifying medium to modify the density of the plasma such that electromagnetic waves of various speeds may be propagated directionally along the path; and
e) a signal generator in electrical contact with the plasma for generating electromagnetic waves to be propagated along the path, wherein the electromagnetic waves produced by the signal generator also act as the energy source used to generate the plasma. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55)
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57. A phase shifting plasma electromagnetic waveguide, comprising:
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a) an elongated non-conductive enclosure defining a propagation path therein for directional electromagnetic wave propagation, wherein a metal sleeve does not surround the enclosure;
b) a composition contained within the enclosure capable of forming a plasma, said plasma when formed having a skin depth along a surface within the enclosure such that the electromagnetic waves penetrate the skin depth and are primarily propagated directionally along the path;
c) an energy source for energizing the composition to form the plasma; and
d) an energy modifying medium to modify the density of the plasma such that electromagnetic waves of various speeds may be propagated directionally along the path, wherein the electromagnetic waves are short-pulse waves.
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58. A phase shifting plasma electromagnetic waveguide, comprising:
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a) an elongated non-conductive enclosure defining a propagation path therein for directional electromagnetic wave propagation, wherein a metal sleeve does not surround the enclosure;
b) a composition contained within the enclosure capable of forming a plasma, said plasma when formed having a skin depth along a surface within the enclosure such that the electromagnetic waves penetrate the skin depth and are primarily propagated directionally along the path;
c) an energy source for energizing the composition to form the plasma, wherein the energy source generates a high frequency signal;
d) an energy modifying medium to modify the density of the plasma such that electromagnetic waves of various speeds may be propagated directionally along the path. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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Specification