Analysis of Plasma Communication Schemes for Hypersonic Vehicles: Final Report
Abstract
We summarize progress in our analysis of proposed communication schemes for hypersonic vehicles in flight. Investigations into the electron-acoustic wave (EAW) communication scheme have yielded a dispersion analysis indicating that EAW modes can be generated and propagate in the plasma layer. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that these modes can be coupled to EM waves at the plasma layer boundary for the assumption of a sharp density boundary. We discuss results of ID particle-in-cell simulations of a plasma-filled cross-field diode. These simulations are intended to model some of the critical physical processes of the ReComm scheme for communications through the plasma sheath surrounding a hypersonic vehicle during re-entry. We demonstrate that the time required to significantly alter the plasma density profile in the diode corresponds roughly to the ambipolar diffusion time. When a voltage is applied, the plasma center-of-mass shifts from the center of the diode. But whether that shift is towards the cathode or anode depends sensitively on the relative mobility of the plasma ions and electrons.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA498289
Entities
People
- Carsten H. Thoma
- David V. Rose
- V. I. Sotnikov