Investigation into wideband electromagnetic stealth device based on plasma array and radar-absorbing materials

Abstract

Manipulation of electromagnetic waves is essential to various microwave applications, and absorbing devices composed of low-pressure gas discharge tubes and radar-absorbing materials (RAM) can bring new solutions to broadband electromagnetic stealth. The microwave transmission method is used to measure the physical parameters of the plasma unit. The designed structure exhibits superior absorption performance and radar cross-section (RCS) reduction capability in the 2-18 GHz band, with unique absorption advantages in the S/C frequency band. It is found that the combination of the plasma and the RAM can significantly broaden the absorption frequency band and improve the absorption performance with excellent synergistic stealth capability. Experimental and simulation results show that broadband, wide-angle, tunable electromagnetic wave absorption and RCS reduction can be achieved by adjusting the spatial layout of the combined plasma layer and the type of RAMs, which creates opportunities for microwave transmission and selective stealth of equipment. Therefore, the wave manipulation by combined plasma array and RAM provides a valuable reference for developing numerous applications, including radar antenna stealth, spatial filter, and high power microwave shielding.

Influence factors and mechanism of backscattering characteristics of electromagnetic waves in a single layer plasma tube array

“…II, we obtained the backscattering attenuation A cloud map of the plasma tube array (PTA) for the metal plate with different parameters (Figs. [8][9][10]. The tube parameters include gas composition, pressure, and tube diameters (Table II).…”

“…1,2 The new active attenuation technology has outstanding advantages, such as being programmable 3,4 and having a wide operating frequency, [5][6][7] fast response speed, and adjustable operating frequency. 8,9 Owing to such attributes, it has become a crucial development direction of backscattering intelligent attenuation technology. 10,11 Existing plasma generation methods for backscattering attenuation include ultraviolet photoionization, 12 hollow cathode low pressure discharge, 13 coaxial glow discharge, 14 electric barrier discharge (DBD), 15,16 radio frequency discharge, [17][18][19] and low pressure mercury vapor discharge (fluorescent lamps or ultraviolet ARTICLE pubs.aip.org/aip/adv lamps).…”

“…These advantages have been widely exploited in many studies. 1,3,4,8,10,11,20,21 To reduce the backscattering of a metal plate, scholars have primarily used an array structure composed of low-pressure mercury vapor discharge plasma tubes to adjust the plasma electron density by changing the plasma discharge current to generate varying attenuation effects. The number of layers of the array can be divided into single layer 1,[20][21][22][23][24][25][26] and double layer.…”

“…The number of layers of the array can be divided into single layer 1,[20][21][22][23][24][25][26] and double layer. 8,11,27,28 The low-pressure mercury vapor discharge plasma array with a single layer arrangement exhibits a superior backscattering attenuation effect, primarily in the high frequency band above 7 GHz. Danilov et al 20 found that an Ar-Hg discharge tube array was preferable to deal with the H wave to achieve better absorption in the frequency range of 5-12 GHz.…”

Design of a wideband and tunable radar absorber

“…When electrons or photos with sufficient energy collide with the neutral atoms and molecules in the feed gas, electrons and ions are produced in the gas phase [38]. Various techniques, such as glow discharge, dielectric barrier discharge and radio frequency discharge, have been employed to generate plasma in experimental studies [39][40][41][42]. Due to the difficulty associated with generating and maintaining a certain density of plasma in a lowaltitude open environment [43,44] the plasma in the closed cavity with low gas pressure is used in this paper.…”