Plasma antennas

Well, I must admit I didn't know anything about plasma antennas since I read about them recently in the "Microwaves&Rf" magazine (www.mwrf.com).

From the magazine: "The plasma in these antennas is essentially a blend of electrons, ions, and neutrons. When the density of the plasma is high enough, an electromagnetic (EM) wave will travel on its surface rather than deep into it. The plasma will exhibit the properties of a conductor, serving as an antenna for transmitting and receiving signals. Consequently, a plasma column can be used as a radiative element in place of a metallic conductor. The plasma becomes conductive when energized by an RF source, and nonconductive once the source is removed." (i.e. the antenna just "disappears" like magic).

You can find the full story at: http://mwrf.com/passive-components/analyze-rcs-plasma-antenna