Design And Research On Plasma Microwave Reflector

Plasma reflector antenna technology is a new application in plasma antenna, which provides a simple way for microwave beam steering. The radar with the unique advantages of plasma reflector antenna is a new, multi-functional, high-performance electronic scanning radar system. The plasma microwave reflector is the basic component of plasma reflector antenna technology, which decides the performance parameters and operation mode of the antenna. In this paper, the features of the plasma microwave reflector are studied from two directions: the basic parameters of the plasma sheet and microwave transmission characteristics in the plasma sheet. The main work and outcomes include:(1) The research on the generation method of plasma microwave refletor is done. It includes the design of the main components of the plasma discharge system, like the dielectric vacuum chamber, Helmholtz coils, large-scale linear hollow cathode discharge electrodes, vacuum adapters, discharge circuits, and the test circuits. Also, the basic disign of the plasma excitation power is completed. Furthermore, the assembly and debugging of the magnetic constrained linear hollow cathode discharge demonstration device is completed, which is used to produce the plasma microwave reflector. So that, it can stably generate large-scale, high-density uniform plasma sheet, providing an experimental platform for the research of plasma microwave reflector.(2) The electrostatic probe fit for the diagnostic of the plasma characteristic parameters of the plasma microwave reflector demonstration device is completed. Based on this, the measurement of plasma parameters is carried out, and the relevant mechanisms of the magnetic confined linear hollow cathode discharge are studied. The plasma characteristics parameters are also diagnosed and analysed through the microwave method and the spectral method, which verify the reliability of the measured results get from electrostatic probe.(3) The general propagation characteristics of electromagnetic wave in plasma is analysed through the sequential stratification method. Also the characteristics of reflection, transmission and phase change of electromagnetic wave in the infinite area plasma under different parameters are given.(4) The reflection properties of microwave beam in plasma microwave reflector are tested and studied by means of experiment and FDTD (finite difference time domain). Studies show that the plasma's density, thickness and the deflection angle significantly affect the reflected microwave beam. Also, ideal operating parameters of plasma microwave reflector under certain frequencies are gained.(5) The performance parameters of plasma reflector antenna are given out with the reflection characteristics of the plasma microwave reflector. The radiation patterns of the plasma reflector antenna prototype are tested, which provide the experimental evidence for the feasibility of plasma reflector antenna.