Emitting Radio Waves with Polarization Currents
December 15, 2020•
Physics 13, s160
An unconventional antenna technology can focus the radio waves emitted from the acceleration of polarization currents, aiding use of the waves in communication applications.
J. Singleton
J. Singleton
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In conventional radio technology, radio waves are generated by accelerating charged particles, such as electrons. Now, John Singleton of Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, and colleagues have demonstrated a way to focus information carried by radio waves that are instead emitted by accelerated polarization currents the propagation of fluctuations in the dipole moments of molecules [1]. Unlike electrons or ions, polarization currents can propagate faster than the speed of light. This factor, and the ability of these currents to radiate from a large volume, gives the technology capabilities inaccessible to conventional antennas, the researchers say.