Radiating coaxial cable having helically diposed slots and radio communication system using same

A radiating coaxial cable having a longitudinal axis comprises an inner conductor having a longitudinal axis wherein the axis of the inner conductor defines the axis of the cable. A dielectric material surrounds the inner conductor. A continuous outer conductor surrounds the dielectric in direct contact therewith and is spaced from the inner conductor. The outer conductor has a plurality of slots disposed therein. Adjacent slots are spaced in the axial direction a distance S. One or more adjacent slots are grouped together in a cell. The cable has a plurality of cells. Adjacent cells are angularly disposed from each other by an angle alpha.