Characterization and comparison of an electric dipole and loop antenna impedance and efficiency in whistler wave excitement

High energy electrons from either solar wind or from human activities may become trapped inside the Van Allen radiation belts and persist there for long periods of time. Spacecraft in the regions may be suspectable to damage from these trapped electrons. Whistler waves are known to precipitate electrons in the atmosphere, so a proposed solution is using spacecraft to carry compact electron beams or antennas to remediate the trapped electrons. Results of a laboratory plasma experiment are presented here. The purpose of the experiment is to compare the efficiency of exciting whistler waves by an electric dipole and multi-turn loop antenna. A distinguishing factor in these antennas is the ability for accurate measurements of the voltage and current right at the antenna. Characterization of the impedance and radiation resistance will allow for comparison to theory and space mission experiments.