Abstract
The effect of plasma on the radiation characteristics of curved rectangular microstrip antenna is studied by means of a new plasma simulation technique. Unlike previous techniques [1,2], a relative index of refraction less than unity is obtained by representing free space with a high dielectric constant sodium chloride powder and plasma by a medium of lower dielectric constant (air). A wide range of dielectric constants of simulated plasma could be possible with this technique using solid dielectrics instead of liquids. It is observed that the resonance frequency is not affected by the curvature of the antenna. However radiation patterns are significantly affected.