Plasma Frequency Selective Surfaces

This paper is focused on using plasma as a substitute for metal in a frequency selective surface ("FSS"). FSSs have been used for filtering electromagnetic waves. Each FSS layer has to be modeled using numerical methods, and the layers are stacked in such a way to create the desired filtering. Genetic algorithms are used to determine the stacking needed for the desired filtering. This is a complicated and numerically expensive process. We developed a method to replace metal in an FSS with plasma elements. Our plasma FSSs can be tuned to a desired filtering by varying the density in the plasma elements. This could save much of the routine analysis involved in the standard analysis of the conventional FSS structures. The user simply tunes the plasma to get the desired filtering. Plasma elements offer the possibility of improved shielding along with reconfigurability and stealth. Plasma FSS can be made transparent by turning the plasma off. This extends our previous scientific achievements in the development of the plasma antenna