Researchers have demonstrated a technique that uses a laser to produce a plasma beam antenna capable of transmitting radio waves. The article, “Laser-Induced-Plasma-Filament Antenna Transmitting 30 MHz VHF,” is published in the IEEE Journal of Microwaves.

“The plasma beam antenna looks like a lightsaber and is tunable, meaning we should be able to transmit across a broad range of frequencies,” says Prya Darshni, corresponding author and a Ph.D. student at North Carolina State University. “And while we have not demonstrated its ability to serve as an antenna that can receive radio signals, there’s no reason to believe it wouldn’t also work as a receiver.”

“This is an exciting new concept that enables one to be able to have a customized antenna without complex mechanical deployment mechanisms,” says Paul Franzon, co-author of the paper and the Cirrus Logic distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering at NC State.