Application of gas-discharge plasma at reduced pressure as a radiating body of an asymmetrical dipole antenna

A plasma asymmetrical dipole antenna was investigated in the frequency range 1–3 GHz, the radiating body of which was a glow discharge positive column in neon at reduced pressure. It was shown that the antenna has a circular azimuthal radiation pattern with one main lobe directed at an angle of 60$^\circ$ to the horizon, with a width of about 30$^\circ$ in elevation. The influence of the electron density in the plasma column on the S parameters and gain of the plasma antenna was experimentally investigated. It was shown that at an electron density of more than 10$^{14}$ cm$^{-3}$ the maximum gain is more than -6 dBi. The importance of simultaneous measurements of $S_{11}$ and $S_{21}$ parameters of a plasma antenna is noted. The possibility of using atmospheric pressure discharges as a plasma dipole antenna is considered. The obtained results are important for the development of high-speed adaptive radioelectronic systems.