REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES AT ELECTRON DENSITY GRADIENTS,
Abstract
Solutions are obtained for the propagation of plane electromagnetic waves parallel to a gra dient of free electron density, in the form of complex Airy functions. Reflection and trans mission coefficients are derived for normal incidence on a linear 'ramp' of electron density connecting a uniform dielectric gas with a uni form ionized gas, as functions of ramp length and propagation exponent of the latter. Machine evaluations of typical cases of physical inter est are displayed and discussed. Similar study is made of two-stage ramps of variable propor tions, intended as second approximations to smooth profile transition zones. In each case, the reflection and transmission coefficients are found to depend strongly on ramp width over a range of several tenths of a wavelength, then to oscillate mildly toward the asymptotic values predicted from a WKB-type imation. The results are less sensitive to the detailed shape of the electron density profile. Propagation through a finite slab of ionized gas bounded on each side by such linear transition zones is formulated and evaluated for typical cases. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1960
- Accession Number
- AD0419466
Entities
People
- Frank A. Albini
- Robert G. Jahn
Organizations
- California Institute of Technology