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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 145 records · Page 8

The propagation characteristics of electromagnetic waves through plasma in the near-field region of low-frequency loop antenna

A high-speed vehicle flying through the atmosphere between 100 and 20 km may suffer from a “communication blackout.” In this paper, a low frequency system with an on-board loop antenna to receive signals is presented as a potential blackout mitigation method. Because the plasma sheath is in the near-field region of the loop antenna, the traditional scattering matrix method that is developed for the far-field region may overestimate the electromagnetic (EM) wave's attenuation. To estimate the EM wave's attenuation in the near-field region, EM interference (EMI) shielding theory is introduced. Experiments are conducted, and the results verify the EMI shielding theory's effectiveness. Simulations are also conducted with different plasma parameters, and the results obtained show that the EM wave's attenuation in the near-field region is far below than that in the far-field region. The EM wave's attenuation increases with the increase in electron density and decreases with the increase in collision frequency. The higher the frequency, the larger is the EM wave's attenuation. During the entire re-entry phase of a RAM-C module, the EM wave's attenuations are below 10 dB for EM waves with a frequency of 1 MHz and below 1 dB for EM waves with a frequency of 100 kHz. Therefore, the low frequency systems (e.g., Loran-C) may provide a way to transmit some key information to high-speed vehicles even during the communication “blackout” period.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Ray Trace Modeling Code

This document gives a brief overview of the basic theory of electromagnetic (EM) wave propagation through an inhomogeneous, non-stochastic plasma and the development of a computer code to model that propagation in three dimensional space. This code has been developed to account for extreme ionospheric refractory conditions, that is, propagation of electromagnetic waves near the geomagnetic poles, and significant electron density gradients in all three directions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Electromagnetic plasma wave propagation along a magnetic field

The linearized response of a Vlasov plasma to the steady-state excitation of transverse plasma waves along an external magnetic field is examined. Assuming a delta-function excitation mechanism, and performing a detailed Vlasov-Maxwell equation analysis using Fourier-Laplace transforms, the plasma response is found to consist of three terms: a branch-cut term, a free-streaming term, and a dielectric-pole term. Also considered is the phenomenon of plasma wave echoes. The case of longitudinal electrostatic waves is extended to the case of transverse plasma waves that propagate along an external magnetic field. It is shown that a transverse echo results in lowest order only when one excitation is transverse and the other is longitudinal.

Olson, C. L.↗

Generation and propagation of an electromagnetic pulse in the Trigger experiment and its possible role in electron acceleration

Instruments onboard the Trigger payload detected a large-amplitude, low-frequency, electric field pulse which was observed with a time delay consistent only with an electromagnetic wave. A model for this perturbation is constructed, and the associated field-aligned current is calculated as a function of altitude. This experiment may simulate the acceleration mechanism which results in the formation of auroral arcs, and possibly even other events in cosmic plasmas.

Kelley, M. C.↗

Investigation on broadband propagation characteristic of terahertz electromagnetic wave in anisotropic magnetized plasma in frequency and time domain

In this paper, we investigate the propagation of terahertz (THz) electromagnetic wave in an anisotropic magnetized plasma by JE convolution-finite difference time domain method. The anisotropic characteristic of the plasma, which leads to right-hand circularly polarized (RCP) and right-hand circularly polarized (LCP) waves, has been taken into account. The interaction between electromagnetic waves and magnetized plasma is illustrated by reflection and transmission coefficients for both RCP and LCP THz waves. The effects of both the magnetized plasma thickness and the external magnetized field are analyzed and numerical results demonstrate that the two factors could influence the THz wave greatly. It is worthy to note that besides the reflection and transmission coefficients in the frequency domain, the waveform of the electric field in the time domain varying with thicknesses and external magnetic fields for different polarized direction has been studied.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Wave propagation and turbulent media.

Book on electromagnetic wave propagation and turbulent media covering invariant imbedding method, turbulence generation, statistical methods of analysis, etc

INVARIANT IMBEDDING↗

4.5m GTEM Characterization

The Gigahertz Transverse ElectroMagnetic (GTEM) test cell propagates planar electromagnetic waves to illuminate a test object with radio frequency (RF) energy within a bounded structure. Once illuminated, the test object produces a response or a transducer measures a parameter inside the test object providing information for computing a transfer function. The transfer function informs a model or additional testing. This report documents the behavior and characterization of the GTEM. The characterization presented in this report uses measurements from electric field measurements spanning a frequency range between 100 kHz and 18 GHz. This report provides guidance for using these results to predict uncertainty of measurements conducted in the GTEM. The GTEM is slightly smaller than EMES (Electromagnetic Environment Simulator); hence, can accommodate objects almost as large as EMES. Sandia acquired the GTEM from ETS Lindgren. ETS Lindgren installed and performed the acceptance test per requirements set forth by Sandia. This document also reports some of the features of the GTEM including safety. Weapons Systems Engineering Assessment Technology (WSEAT) commissioned this effort to provide support to Nuclear Weapons qualification in accordance with Realize Product Sub System (RPSS). Motivation for this effort stems from four qualification programs: B61 LEP, W88 ALT370, W80-4 LEP, and the Mk21 fuze program.

42 ENGINEERING↗

On dielectric lenses

Dielectric lens for correction of curved field lines in electromagnetic wave propagation

ELECTROMAGNETIC PROPAGATION↗

A Review of Low Frequency Electromagnetic Wave Phenomena Related to Tropospheric-Ionospheric Coupling Mechanisms

Investigation of coupling mechanisms between the troposphere and the ionosphere requires a multidisciplinary approach involving several branches of atmospheric sciences, from meteorology, atmospheric chemistry, and fulminology to aeronomy, plasma physics, and space weather. In this work, we review low frequency electromagnetic wave propagation in the Earth-ionosphere cavity from a troposphere-ionosphere coupling perspective. We discuss electromagnetic wave generation, propagation, and resonance phenomena, considering atmospheric, ionospheric and magnetospheric sources, from lightning and transient luminous events at low altitude to Alfven waves and particle precipitation related to solar and magnetospheric processes. We review in situ ionospheric processes as well as surface and space weather phenomena that drive troposphere-ionosphere dynamics. Effects of aerosols, water vapor distribution, thermodynamic parameters, and cloud charge separation and electrification processes on atmospheric electricity and electromagnetic waves are reviewed. We also briefly revisit ionospheric irregularities such as spread-F and explosive spread-F, sporadic-E, traveling ionospheric disturbances, Trimpi effect, and hiss and plasma turbulence. Regarding the role of the lower boundary of the cavity, we review transient surface phenomena, including seismic activity, earthquakes, volcanic processes and dust electrification. The role of surface and atmospheric gravity waves in ionospheric dynamics is also briefly addressed. We summarize analytical and numerical tools and techniques to model low frequency electromagnetic wave propagation and solving inverse problems and summarize in a final section a few challenging subjects that are important for a better understanding of tropospheric-ionospheric coupling mechanisms.

Simoes, Fernando↗

Variance of phase fluctuations of waves propagating through a random medium

As an electromagnetic wave propagates through a random scattering medium, such as a forest, its energy is attenuated and random phase fluctuations are induced. The magnitude of the random phase fluctuations induced is important in estimating how well a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) can image objects within the scattering medium. The two-layer random medium model, consisting of a scattering layer between free space and ground, is used to calculate the variance of the phase fluctuations induced between a transmitter located above the random medium and a receiver located below the random medium. The scattering properties of the random medium are characterized by a correlation function of the random permittivity fluctuations. The effective permittivity of the random medium is first calculated using the strong fluctuation theory, which accounts for large permittivity fluctuations of the scatterers. The distorted Born approximation is used to calculate the first-order scattered field. A perturbation series for the phase of the received field in the Rytov approximation is then introduced and the variance of the phase fluctuations is also calculated assuming that the transmitter and receiver are in the paraxial limit of the random medium, which allows an analytic solution to be obtained. Results are compared using the paraxial approximation, scalar Green's function formulation, and dyadic Green's function formulation. The effects studied are the dependence of the variance of the phase fluctuations on receiver location in lossy and lossless regions, medium thickness, correlation length and fractional volume of scatterers, depolarization of the incident wave, ground layer permittivity, angle of incidence, and polarization.

Chu, Nelson C.↗

Polariton dispersion in nanocomposite materials

The several optical properties of crystals are modified due to nonlinearity associated with high intensity of the incident radiation. In the present work, the linear and nonlinear optical characterization of the nanocomposite materials are also discussed in detail. We explore the possibilities of nonlinear effects in the optical parameters in nanocomposite materials. New modes on the polaritonic gap where the propagation of electromagnetic wave is forbidden, are obtained due to nonlinearity. The presence of gap mode shows the propagation of electromagnetic radiation which may be exploited in optical communications.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Reflection and transmission of electromagnetic pulses at a planar dielectric interface -- theory and quantum lattice simulations

There is considerable interest in the application of quantum information science to advance computations in plasma physics. A particular point of curiosity is whether it is possible to take advantage of quantum computers to speed up numerical simulations relative to conventional computers. Many of the topics in fusion plasma physics are classical in nature. In order to implement them on quantum computers it will require couching a classical problem in the language of quantum mechanics. Electromagnetic waves are routinely used in fusion experiments to heat a plasma or to generate currents in the plasma. The propagation of electromagnetic waves is described by Maxwell equations with an appropriate description of the plasma as a dielectric medium. Before advancing to the tensor dielectric of a magnetized plasma, this paper considers electromagnetic wave propagation in a one-dimensional inhomogeneous scalar dielectric. The classic theory of scattering of plane electromagnetic waves at a planar interface, separating two different dielectric media, leads to Fresnel equations for reflection and transmission coefficients. In contrast to plane waves, this paper is on the reflection and transmission of a spatially confined electromagnetic pulse. Following an analytical formulation for the scattering of a Gaussian pulse, it is deduced that the maximum transmission coefficient for a pulse is $\sqrt{n_2/n_1}$ times that for a plane wave; the incident and transmitted pulses propagating in dielectric media with refractive indices $n_1$ and $n_2$, respectively. The analytical theory is complemented by numerical simulations using a quantum lattice algorithm for Maxwell equations. The algorithm, based on the Riemann-Silberstein-Weber representation of the electromagnetic fields and expressed in term of qubits, is an interleaved sequence of entangling operators at each lattice site and unitary streaming operators which transmit information from one site to an adjacent lattice site. Besides substantiating results from the theory for Gaussian pulses, numerical simulations show their validity for non-Gaussian pulses. Apart from their time-asymptotic forms, the simulations display an interplay between the incident, reflected, and transmitted pulses in the vicinity of the transition region between two dielectric media.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

The MOOSE electromagnetics module

The Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE) electromagnetics module has been developed to increase MOOSE physics module capabilities, enabling standalone and coupled computational electromagnetics within the MOOSE multiphysics ecosystem. The module is actively being utilized in the areas of plasma physics and advanced manufacturing, and it currently provides initial demonstrated capability in multi-dimensional, complex-valued electromagnetic wave propagation, electrostatic contact, reflection and transmission, and electromagnetic eigenvalue problems. Two-dimensional wave propagation and one-dimensional wave reflection and transmission are showcased as examples in this work. The modularity, parallelism, and plug-in infrastructure for custom future development is inherited from MOOSE itself, and the module can be used with both MOOSE-based and external codes, giving great flexibility.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗