SLAC develops novel compact antenna for communicating where radios fail

Image of a person holding a pocket-sized antenna with simulated beams emanating into the vast distance.

A new VLF antenna developed by SLAC researchers is compact (4-inches tall) and weighs only a few pounds. The device emits very low frequency (VLF) radiation with wavelengths of tens to hundreds of miles and could enable mobile communication where conventional radios don't work such as through ground and water and thousands of miles beyond the horizon through air.