Analysis of the electromagnetic scattering characteristics in two-dimensional time-varying and spatially non-uniform plasma sheath

摘要

Hypersonic vehicles are affected by plasma sheath, which influences information transmission and target recognition. This study analyzes the scattering characteristics of different parameters of electromagnetic (EM) waves in a time-varying plasma sheath. The finite-difference time-domain algorithm is applied. An empirical formula of plasma collision frequency is used, and the electron density is assumed to vary with time, causing the plasma frequency to also vary with time and rise exponentially. Different time-varying laws on EM scattering are compared. Radar cross section of different parameters, including the flight altitude, flight Mach number, attack angle, cyclotron frequency of the electron, incident EM wave frequency, and incident EM wave angle, is calculated and analyzed in time-varying plasma. Published by AIP Publishing.