Scattering of plane electromagnetic waves off spherically confined cold plasmas with overdense and steep densities

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · J. Math. Phys. (N.Y.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.524736· OSTI ID:6679133

Kriegsmann, G A

In this paper we study the scattering of a plane electromagnetic wave off a spherical plasma pellet. The plasma density is taken to be overdense and very steep. This causes the cut off radius, r/sub 0/, to be within a fraction of a wavelength from the spherical boundary. The problem is studied in the asymptotic limit (a..omega../c)..-->.. infinity with 0<1-r/sub 0/=O(c/a..omega..). Here a is the radius of the sphere, ..omega.. is the frequency of the incident radiation, and c is the velocity of light in free space. We develop an asymptotic technique which reduces Maxwell's equations to three ordinary differential equations within the plasma. Our method is a blend of geometrical optics and boundary layer techniques. Straightforward geometrical optics is used to describe the scattered field.

• Research Organization: Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588
• OSTI ID: 6679133
• Journal Information: J. Math. Phys. (N.Y.); (United States), Journal Name: J. Math. Phys. (N.Y.); (United States) Vol. 22:1; ISSN JMAPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700108* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Wave Phenomena
ASYMPTOTIC SOLUTIONS
COLD PLASMA
CROSS SECTIONS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EQUATIONS
MAXWELL EQUATIONS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PELLETS
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
RADIATIONS
SCATTERING
SPHERES