Tunable surface plasmon resonance in laser-induced plasma spheroids

We present a study of the Ku-band tunability of the surface plasmon response of a gaseous plasma resonator generated by laser-induced gas breakdown. Tuning is achieved by varying gas pressure and laser pulse energy. Microwave scattering characteristics of the plasma resonator are obtained using an experimental configuration in which a waveguide is loaded with a single plasma element. Optical imaging of the laser plasma is used to characterize the time-dependent plasma size. Complex transmission waveforms are attributed to the dynamic expansion of the plasma, resulting first in a sweep through the principle Mie resonance, followed by strong reflection of the incident wave due to bulk plasma loading as the plasma expands to significantly fill the waveguide. The described resonator has the potential to be used in an all-plasma metamaterial with tunable opacity and resonance frequency.

Automated summary

"The study investigates the Ku-band tunability of a gas plasma resonator generated by laser-induced gas breakdown, achieved through adjusting gas pressure and laser pulse energy. Microwave scattering characteristics of the plasma resonator were obtained by loading a waveguide with a single plasma element. Optical imaging and analysis of complex transmission waveforms demonstrated the dynamic expansion of the plasma and its potential applications in all-plasma metamaterials with tunable opacity and resonance frequency."