Microwave measurement of electrical fields in different media-principles, methods and instrumentation

Abstract

This paper, presented in the frame of 4th International Workshop and Summer School on Plasma Physics (IWSSPP'2010, Kiten, Bulgaria), is a brief review of the principles, methods and instrumentation of the microwave measurements of electrical fields in different media. The main part of the paper is connected with the description of the basic features of many field sensors and antennas-narrow-, broadband and ultra-wide band, miniaturized, reconfigurable and active sensors, etc. The main features and applicability of these sensors for determination of electric fields in different media is discussed. The last part of the paper presents the basic principles for utilization of electromagnetic 3-D simulators for E-field measurement purposes. Two illustrative examples have been given-the determination of the dielectric anisotropy of multi-layer materials and discussion of the selectivity of hairpin-probe for determination of the electron density in dense gaseous plasmas. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.