About

Plasma Antenna TecHnologies

Program: Horizon 2020
Call: H2020-MSCA-RISE-2016
Countries: Italy – United Kingdom – Greece
 
 

PATH is intended to promote a collaborative research focused in the development of high density plasma sources implemented with the Exchange of staff personnel between the partners of the network. The research will also address transfer of knowledge and training of the researchers in the specific field of plasma sources and its applicatio ns in the telecommunication sector. High density plasma sources find large number of industrial applications from material treatment to Telecommunication. Overcoming the density limit of current source will open new frontier in several technological field. PATH aims at cross linking different competences to study and develop prototype of plasma sources and plasma antenna based on hybrid technologies based on Radiofrequency and Hollow cathode technologies. A Gaseous Plasma Antenna (GPA) is a plasma discharge confined in a dielectric tube that uses partially or fully ionized gas to generate and receive electromagnetic waves; GPAs are virtually “transparent” above the plasma frequency and become “invisible” when turned off. Unlike ordinary metallic antennas, GPAs and Plasma Antenna Arrays can be reconfigured electrically (rather than mechanically) with respect to impedance, frequency, bandwidth and directivity on time scales the order of microseconds or milliseconds. It is also possible to stack arrays of GPAs designed to operate at different frequencies. A Plasma Antenna will be able to:

  • identifying the direction of incoming signal,
  • tracking and locating the antenna beam on the mobile/target,
  • beam-steering while minimizing interferences.

Actual technology is based mainly on: (i) DC discharge, (ii) AC discharge, (iii) RF discharge, (iv) Microwaves, (v) Hollow cathode. Improvement of plasma source performances require a strong effort in term of modelling and technology.

The aim of PATH is to merge European competences to make a substantial step toward innovative plasma sources.

 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Project Activities

WP1: PHYSICAL MODELS

Main objective: To build up physical models suitable to study the main physic aspects behind the hybrid sources. Description: This …
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WP2: PLASMA SOURCE ELEMENT SIMULATIONS

Objectives: To develop new numerical tools to support the physical investigations and design of advanced plasma sources. Description: The code …
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WP3: SOURCE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

Objective: This WP will be focused on solving the technology challenges involved in the design and development of sources based …
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WP4: PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT OF PLASMA SOURCES AND ANTENNA ELEMENT

Objective: To design, develop and test a demonstrator based on the achievement of WP2 and WP3. Description: The code developed …
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News & Events


Summer School 2018 Padova June 18th – July 13th

It’s been an interesting year for PATH. Different plasma sources and antenna prototypes have been studied and developed within the Consortium partners. The second PATH summer school is held in Padua, where the experts and …
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Space propulsion 2018 – Seville 14th-18th May

Understanding plasma-wall interaction is quite challenging. This is especially true in PATH due to the high-density plasma required for the plasma antenna to operate. Prediction of the erosion arising from such interactions is one of …
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Summer School 2017

SUMMER SCHOOL 2017. University of Southampton from July 17th to August 8th Stephen Gabriel and Igor Golosnoy (SOTON) at lecture room and white board. Alessio Di Iorio (ALMA) and George Karystinos (TUC) at working desk …
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