Magnetized radio-frequency sheath in low temperature plasma

Abstract

In hypersonic flights, the intense ionization of the surrounding air leads to the formation of a weakly ionized plasma nearby the vehicle surface. If the electron oscillation frequency in the plasma is higher than the communication signal frequency, the plasma blocks the electromagnetic waves causing a communication blackout. The plasma behavior can be altered by using a combination of electric and magnetic fields to make a spectral window for the wave propagation. In this study, we use a fluid model of the low temperature plasma for the theoretical analysis of radio-frequency sheaths in the plasma formed around the hypersonic vehicle. An applied transverse magnetic field is shown to suppress the instabilities in addition to further lowering plasma frequency to create a desired communication window.