Researchers at North Carolina State University have demonstrated a new antenna made from a thin filament of laser-ionized air, creating a glowing plasma beam that resembles a lightsaber.

The laser creates the plasma filament by ionizing air, while a metal ring acts as a contactless capacitor to couple a radio-frequency signal into the plasma without physically touching it.

The researchers demonstrated the system transmitting a 30 MHz VHF radio signal, showing for the first time that a laser-generated plasma filament can function as a radio antenna.

Because the laser can control the filament’s length and direction, the technology could eventually allow antennas to be rapidly adjusted for different frequencies or aimed electronically without mechanically moving the antenna, Phys.org has reported.

Researchers see potential applications in satellites and space exploration, although the current experiment is an early proof of concept and the antenna’s ability to receive signals and operate across a broad frequency range still needs to be demonstrated.