Site preparation for guided surface wave transmission in a lossy media

Abstract

Aspects of a guided surface waveguide probe site and the preparation thereof are described. In various embodiments, the guided surface waveguide probe site may include a propagation interface including a first region and a second region, and a guided surface waveguide probe configured to launch a guided surface wave along the propagation interface. In one aspect of the embodiments, at least a portion of the first region may be prepared to more efficiently launch or propagate the guided surface wave. Among embodiments, the portion of the first region, which may be composed of the Earth, may be treated or mixed with salt, gypsum, sand, or gravel, for example, among other compositions of matter. In other embodiments, the portion of the first region may be covered, insulated, irrigated, or temperature-controlled, for example. By preparing the site, a guided surface wave may be more efficiently launched and/or propagated.

Therefore, the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A probe site, comprising:
 a propagation interface including a lossy conducting medium that extends along the propagation interface; and   a guided surface waveguide probe configured to launch a guided surface wave along the propagation interface, the guided surface waveguide probe including a charge terminal elevated at a height over the lossy conducting medium, a ground stake in the lossy conducting medium, and a feed network coupled between the ground stake and the charge terminal,   wherein a portion of the lossy conducting medium is prepared to launch the guided surface wave.   
     
     
         2 . The probe site according to  claim 1 , wherein the guided surface waveguide probe is configured to generate at least one resultant field that synthesizes a wave front having a complex Brewster angle of incidence at a crossover distance from the guided surface waveguide probe in the lossy conducting medium. 
     
     
         3 . The probe site according to  claim 1 , wherein the feed network is configured to provide a phase delay that matches a wave tilt angle associated with a complex Brewster angle of incidence at a crossover distance from the guided surface waveguide probe in the lossy conducting medium. 
     
     
         4 . The probe site according to  claim 3 , wherein the portion of the lossy conducting medium extends to or beyond the crossover distance along the propagation interface. 
     
     
         5 . The probe site according to  claim 1 , wherein the propagation interface further includes an insulator that extends along the propagation interface. 
     
     
         6 . The probe site according to  claim 5 , wherein the lossy conducting medium comprises the Earth and the insulator comprises the atmosphere of the Earth. 
     
     
         7 . The probe site according to  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the lossy conducting medium extends into the lossy conducting medium at least to a depth of a complex image of the guided surface waveguide probe. 
     
     
         8 . The probe site according to  claim 1 , further comprising a dome covering the guided surface waveguide probe and the portion of the lossy conducting medium. 
     
     
         9 . The probe site according to  claim 1 , further comprising a layer that covers the portion of the portion of the lossy conducting medium. 
     
     
         10 . The probe site according to  claim 1 , further comprising an irrigation system that irrigates the portion of the lossy conducting medium. 
     
     
         11 . A probe site, comprising:
 a propagation interface between a first region and a second region; and   a guided surface waveguide probe configured to launch a guided surface wave along the propagation interface, the guided surface waveguide probe including a charge terminal elevated at a height over the first region and a feed network,   wherein a portion of at least one of the first region or the second region is prepared to launch the guided surface wave.   
     
     
         12 . The probe site according to  claim 11 , wherein the guided surface waveguide probe is configured to generate at least one resultant field that synthesizes a wave front having a complex Brewster angle of incidence at a crossover distance from the guided surface waveguide probe in the first region. 
     
     
         13 . The probe site according to  claim 11 , wherein the feed network is configured to provide a phase delay that matches a wave tilt angle associated with a complex Brewster angle of incidence associated with the first region in a vicinity of the guided surface waveguide probe. 
     
     
         14 . The probe site according to  claim 11 , wherein the first region comprises a lossy conducting medium and the second region comprises an insulator. 
     
     
         15 . The probe site according to  claim 14 , wherein the first region comprises the Earth and the second region comprises the atmosphere of the Earth. 
     
     
         16 . The probe site according to  claim 11 , wherein a portion of the first region includes a higher concentration of gypsum than that of the Earth in the first region. 
     
     
         17 . The probe site according to  claim 11 , further comprising a dome covering the guided surface waveguide probe. 
     
     
         18 . The probe site according to  claim 11 , further comprising a layer that covers a portion of the first region. 
     
     
         19 . A probe site, comprising:
 a propagation interface including a lossy conducting medium that extends along the propagation interface; and   a guided surface waveguide probe configured to launch a guided surface wave along the propagation interface, the guided surface waveguide probe including a charge terminal elevated at a height over the lossy conducting medium, a ground stake in the lossy conducting medium, and a feed network coupled between the ground stake and the charge terminal, wherein:   the guided surface waveguide probe is configured to generate at least one resultant field that synthesizes a wave front having a complex Brewster angle of incidence at a crossover distance from the guided surface waveguide probe in the lossy conducting medium; and   a portion of the lossy conducting medium is prepared to launch the guided surface wave.   
     
     
         20 . The probe site according to  claim 3 , wherein the portion of the lossy conducting medium extends to or beyond the crossover distance along the propagation interface.