Surface Wave-Based Underwater Radio Communication

TL;DR

This paper introduces a portable underwater radio antenna that utilizes surface electromagnetic waves at 50 MHz, enabling broadband wireless communication over several meters by enhancing coupling at the seawater interface.

Contribution

It presents a novel antenna design that efficiently launches surface waves at the seawater/air interface, reducing size and improving underwater communication capabilities.

Findings

Surface wave propagation length exceeds skin depth at 50 MHz.

Antenna design achieves efficient electromagnetic coupling in seawater.

Enables broadband underwater communication over several meters.

Abstract

An underwater portable radio antenna operating in the 50 MHz band and efficient for launching surface electromagnetic waves at the seawater/air interface is presented. The antenna operation is based on the field enhancement at the antenna tip and on an impedance matching antenna enclosure, which is filled with de-ionized water. This enclosure allows us to reduce antenna dimensions and improve the coupling of electromagnetic energy to the surrounding salt water medium. Since surface wave propagation length far exceeds the skin depth of conventional radio waves at the same frequency, this technique is useful for broadband underwater wireless communication over several meters distances.