Two-dimensional model of an electromagnetic layer for the mitigation of communications blackout

Kim, Minkwan, Keidar, Michael and Boyd, Iain D. (2009) Two-dimensional model of an electromagnetic layer for the mitigation of communications blackout. In 47th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting including the New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.. (doi:10.2514/6.2009-1232).

Abstract

During hypersonic, the shock heated air generates a weakly ionized plasma layer around a vehicle. Since the created plasma layer has a high plasma number density, the vehicle has a communication problem known as radio blackout. Solving radio blackout is an important issue for safety of the vehicle, catastrophe analysis, and mission success. In order to solve radio blackout, we propose to manipulate a plasma number density. This paper describes studies of manipulating a flowing plasma with electric and magnetic fields. We suggest a two-dimensional model of an ExB layer which helps to determine the optimal configuration of the ExB layer and location of an antenna. The suggested numerical model uses a hydrodynamic MHD approximation and it is solved using a finite volume method with a Riemann solver. In this paper, we demonstrate that an applied ExB layer can manipulate plasma density in a specific region. The manipulated plasma reduces radio wave attenuation in a plasma layer and provides the possibility for communication during radio blackout.

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Contributors

Author: Minkwan Kim

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