Research
We explore two complementary directions: using plasma to advance electromagnetic systems, and using electromagnetic engineering to create efficient plasma sources.
Plasma for Electromagnetics
We harness plasma’s widely tunable electromagnetic properties—from positive to epsilon-near-zero and negative permittivity—for adaptive RF and microwave systems. Our focus is high-power operation, where semiconductor and MEMS technologies face power-handling limits.
Antennas & Matching Networks
Electrically small antennas, tunable loading, and plasma impedance matching.
Tunable RF Electronics
Switches, phase shifters, and nonlinear and time-varying circuits.
High-Power Microwaves
Frequency-selective limiters, protective surfaces, and limitennas.
Electromagnetics for Plasma
We engineer high-Q RF and microwave resonators to concentrate electromagnetic energy and efficiently ignite and sustain resonant microwave plasmas.
Single plasma jets
Localized plasma generation and delivery.
Plasma jet arrays
Distributed sources for larger treatment areas.
Plasma lines
Extended, spatially continuous plasma geometries.
Applications: Biomedical research · Materials processing · Particle accelerators · Agriculture
Experimental Capabilities
ARPL connects electromagnetic modeling, plasma experiments, and rapid prototype development.
RF & Microwave Measurements
Network analysis from 10 MHz to 20 GHz, spectrum analysis to 26.5 GHz, high-power RF testing, time-domain measurements, and near-field probing.
Controlled Plasma Experiments
RF and microwave plasma sources, gas-flow control, and vacuum chambers supporting pressure-controlled experiments from 10−7 Torr to atmospheric pressure.
Plasma Diagnostics
Optical-emission spectroscopy with a Princeton Instruments HRS-500SS spectrometer and gated plasma imaging with a PI-MAX 4 ICCD camera.
Modeling & Prototyping
Keysight ADS, Ansys HFSS, and COMSOL Multiphysics support circuit, electromagnetic, and plasma modeling, complemented by in-house PCB milling and prototyping.
Shared UToledo resources: Advanced materials characterization through CMSC, polymer and additive-manufacturing facilities, and scientific glassblowing for custom plasma cells.
Research Support
We gratefully acknowledge support from:
The University of Toledo
Department of Electrical Engineering
and Computer Science
Adaptive Radiofrequency and Plasma Laboratory · The University of Toledo · Toledo, Ohio