Coupled Electromagnetic and Electron Acoustic Wave Propagation in an Inhomogeneous Lossy Plasma Layer
Abstract
A hydrodynamic treatment is used to derive the coupled wave equations for wave propagation in a compressible plasma. Electron acoustic waves in the plasma are assumed to be excited by a vertically polarized electromagnetic wave obliquely incident upon a plane dielectric-plasma interface. Finite difference numerical solutions for the electromagnetic field and the scalar pressure field are obtained in a reentry-type plasma layer surrounding high-performance hypersonic reentry vehicles. An inhomogeneous plasma layer (or sheath) is modelled with a linearly increasing electron density profile. The coupling of acoustic waves to electromagnetic waves in this inhomogeneous region is investigated. Numerical results are obtained for the conversion of electromagnetic energy to plasma wave energy and vice versa.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0715910
Entities
People
- Hugh L. Southall
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory