Simulating Plasma Microwave Diagnostics

Computational simulation of plasma diagnostics via microwave absorption has been successfully accomplished. This simulation capability is developed from solutions to a combination of the three-dimensional Maxwell equations and the generalized Ohm’s law in the time domain. As the simulation procedure developed, numerical results were obtained for a range of plasma transport properties including electrical conductivity, permittivity, and plasma frequency. The present results reveal the wave reflection at the media interface and substantial distortion of the electromagnetic field within a thin plasma sheet from a guided microwave. The present numerical simulation also accurately predicts the microwave blackout phenomenon as the wave propagates through a thick plasma sheet. The diffractions and refractions occurring at antenna apertures and passing through a plasma column are captured numerically. Finally, the numerical simulation has successfully duplicated a plasma diagnostic experiment in a hypersonic magneto-hydrodynamic channel.