Active magnetic radome

1. A method for dynamically modifying electrical characteristics of a radome comprising the steps of:

interposing a radome in the path of a radio frequency signal; and,

selectively varying at least one electrical characteristic of said radome by applying an energetic stimulus to dynamically modify a performance characteristic of said radome.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said electrical characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a permittivity, a permeability, a loss tangent, and a reflectivity.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said energetic stimulus is selected from the group consisting of an electric stimulus, a photonic stimulus, a magnetic stimulus, and a thermal stimulus.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said energetic stimulus controls a fluid dielectric.

5. A method for dynamically modifying electrical characteristics of a radome comprising the steps of:

interposing a radome in the path of a radio frequency signal; and

selectively varying at least one electrical characteristic of said radome by applying an energetic stimulus to dynamically modify a performance characteristic of said radome, said energetic stimulus

for varying at least one of a volume, a position, and a composition of said fluid dielectric.

6. A radome, comprising:

a radome wall comprised of at least one dielectric material; and,

a structure for providing an energetic stimulus to at least a portion of said radome wall, wherein a permittivity or permeability of at least a portion of said dielectric material is dynamically alterable responsive to application of said energetic stimulus.

7. The radome of claim 6 , wherein said energetic stimulus comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of an electric stimulus, a magnetic stimulus, a thermal stimulus, and a photonic stimulus.

8. The radome of claim 6 , wherein said energetic stimulus comprises flowing fluid, said flowing fluid conveyed through said dielectric material.

9. The radome of claim 6 , wherein said dielectric material comprises a liquid crystal polymer.

10. The radome of claim 6 , wherein said dielectric material comprises voids.

11. The radome of claim 6 , wherein said dielectric material comprises magnetic particles.

12. A radome, comprising:

a radome wall comprised of at least one dielectric material; and

a structure for providing an energetic stimulus to at least a portion of said radome wall, wherein a permittivity or permeability of at least a portion of said dielectric material is dynamically alterable responsive to application of said energetic stimulus;

wherein said energetic stimulus is used to dynamically impedance match said radome to an environment around said radome.

13. A method for operating a radome comprising the steps of:

forming a radome wall of at least one dielectric material; and,

applying an energetic stimulus to at least a portion of said radome wall to alter a permittivity or permeability of at least a portion of said dielectric material.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said energetic stimulus is selected from the group consisting of an electric stimulus, a photonic stimulus, a magnetic stimulus, and a thermal stimulus.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein said energetic stimulus controls a fluid dielectric.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising the step of:

dynamically matching the impedance of said dome to an environment around said radome using said energetic stimulus.

17. A method for operating a radome comprising the steps of:

forming a radome wall of at least one dielectric material;

applying an energetic stimulus to at least a portion of said radome wall to alter a permittivity or permeability of at least a portion of said dielectric material; and

dynamically matching the impedance of said dome to an environment around said radome using said energetic stimulus;

wherein after applying said energetic stimulus, a ratio of said permittivity and said permeability of said radome wall is substantially equal to a ratio of a permittivity and a permeability of said environment.