Analysis of an electromagnetic mitigation scheme for reentry telemetry through plasma

Abstract

During hypersonic reentry flight, the shock heated air generates a weakly ionized plasma layer. Because the weakly ionized plasma layer has a high plasma number density, it causes an important systems operation problem that is known as a communication, or radio, blackout. The radio blackout occurs when the plasma frequency of the plasma layer is higher than a radio wave frequency. In this case, the radio wave signals to and from the vehicle are reflected or attenuated so that the vehicle loses voice communication, data telemetry, and Global Positioning System navigation. The radio blackout problem can be solved by reducing the plasma number density of the plasma layer because the plasma frequency is mainly related to the plasma number density of the plasma layer. To reduce the plasma number density of the plasma layer, an electromagnetic E ? B layer approach is proposed. The proposed ExB layer is analyzed by a two-dimensional model. It suggests that an E ? B layer can be used to allow transmission of the communication signals through the plasma layer. We also propose an alternative to reduce the plasma density, based on an electrostatic plasma sheath.

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