UNDERWATER RADIO FREQUENCY COMMUNICATION AND IMAGING THROUGH SURFACE ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
Methods, systems, and devices for underwater communication are described. In some examples, a communication system may comprise a transmitter configured to excite surface electromagnetic waves along a water surface, utilizing the water surface as a superlens to focus the intensity of the excited surface electromagnetic waves from an object plane of the transmitter through the water surface. The transmitter may be further configured to communicatively couple with a receiver that may be configured to detect the surface electromagnetic waves propagated from the transmitter across the water surface. Some implementations enable efficient underwater radio communication and imaging over significant distances, leveraging the superlensing effect of surface electromagnetic waves for enhanced signal propagation and reception.
1 . A communication system for underwater use, comprising:
a transmitter configured to excite surface electromagnetic waves along a water surface;
the water surface is used as a superlens to focus an intensity of the excited surface electromagnetic waves from an object plane of the transmitter through the water surface; and
the transmitter is further configured to communicatively couple with a receiver configured to detect the surface electromagnetic waves propagated from the transmitter across the water surface.
2 . The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter includes a transmitter antenna configured to match a field configuration of the surface electromagnetic waves for excitation along the water surface.
3 . The communication system of claim 2 , wherein the transmitter antenna is configured to provide directional intensity for the excitation of the surface electromagnetic waves propagated from a transmitter.
4 . The communication system of claim 2 , wherein the transmitter antenna includes an array of antennas.
5 . The communication system of claim 1 , further comprising a receiver antenna configured to match a field configuration of the surface electromagnetic waves for detection along the water surface.
6 . The communication system of claim 5 , wherein the receiver antenna array is configured to provide directional sensitivity for the detection of the surface electromagnetic waves propagated from one or more transmitters.
7 . The communication system of claim 5 , wherein the receiver antenna includes an array of antennas.
8 . The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is configured to operate at a frequency range that allows for communication over distances of 100 or more skin depths in fresh water.
9 . The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver is configured to detect subwavelength super-resolution images of an object located below the water surface by analyzing the intensity of the received surface electromagnetic waves.
10 . The communication system of claim 1 , further comprising a protective enclosure for one or both of the transmitter and the receiver, the protective enclosure being configured prevent short-circuiting when submerged in water.
11 . The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the water surface acts as a superlens to enhance the transmission of the surface electromagnetic waves from the object plane to the receiver.
12 . The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is configured to operate in seawater, enhancing the intensity of the surface electromagnetic waves for robust transmission.
13 . The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver is configured to detect changes in the intensity of the surface electromagnetic waves in response to an object interacting with a metal screen submerged in a pool.
14 . A method for communicating underwater, comprising:
exciting surface electromagnetic waves along a water surface with a transmitter;
using the water surface as a superlens to focus an intensity of the excited surface electromagnetic waves from an object plane of the transmitter through the water surface; and
communicatively coupling the transmitter with a receiver configured to detect the surface electromagnetic waves propagated from the transmitter across the water surface.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein exciting surface electromagnetic waves includes utilizing a transmitter antenna configured to match a field configuration of the surface electromagnetic waves for excitation along the water surface.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the transmitter antenna is configured to provide directional intensity for the excitation of the surface electromagnetic waves propagated from the transmitter.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the transmitter antenna comprises an array of antennas.
18 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising detecting the surface electromagnetic waves with a receiver antenna configured to match a field configuration of the surface electromagnetic waves for detection along the water surface.
19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the receiver antenna is configured to provide directional sensitivity for the detection of the surface electromagnetic waves propagated from one or more transmitters.
20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the receiver antenna comprises an array of antennas.