Study on the electromagnetic waves propagation characteristics in partially ionized plasma slabs

Abstract

Propagation characteristics of electromagnetic (EM) waves in partially ionized plasma slabs are studied in this paper. Such features are significant to applications in plasma antennas, blackout of re-entry flying vehicles, wave energy injection to plasmas, and etc. We in this paper developed a theoretical model of EM wave propagation perpendicular to a plasma slab with a one-dimensional density inhomogeneity along propagation direction to investigate essential characteristics of EM wave propagation in nonuniform plasmas. Particularly, the EM wave propagation in sub-wavelength plasma slabs, where the geometric optics approximation fails, is studied and in comparison with thicker slabs where the geometric optics approximation applies. The influences of both plasma and collisional frequencies, as well as the width of the plasma slab, on the EM wave propagation characteristics are discussed. The results can help the further understanding of propagation behaviours of EM waves in nonuniform plasma, and applications of the interactions between EM waves and plasmas.

Collision effects on propagation characteristics of electromagnetic waves in a sub-wavelength plasma slab of partially ionized dense plasmas

“…We then analyze the effect of collisions on the propagation process of EM waves for the case in which ω pe0 >ω 0 and θ=0°, and the cases of θ≠0°are similar to that shown in figure 3. The transmitted and the reflected waves, corresponding to the first and second terms on the right-hand side of formula (8), can be obtained from the recursion formula (9). The corresponding results are shown in figure 6.…”

“…Many theoretical and numerical methods [6][7][8][9] have been developed to study the propagation properties of RF waves in plasma slabs. Theoretically, the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB) method [10][11][12] has been applied to calculate the propagation of EM waves in weakly inhomogeneous plasmas.…”

Experimental and numerical studies on the receiving gain enhancement modulated by a sub-wavelength plasma layer

“…Because of special dielectric features of plasmas, plasma technology has already achieved great progresses in EM communication [11][12][13][14][15] by offering promising solutions, due to easiness of fabrication, and compactness as well as high efficiency characteristics of the plasmas [16,17]. Particularly, the technology of EM signal radiation intensification for both transmitting and receiving antennas in gigahertz (GHz) bands by sub-wavelength plasma structures is highly desirable for related areas, such as optimizing of communication network, extension of radar technology, and detection and control of aircraft.…”