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Title: Microparticle injection effects on microwave transmission through an overly dense plasma layer

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4919028· OSTI ID:22408384
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375 (United States)
  2. Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio 45501 (United States)
  3. Sotera Defense Solutions, Herndon, Virginia 20171 (United States)

Microparticles injected into a plasma have been shown to deplete the free electron population as electrons are collected through the process of microparticles charging to the plasma floating potential. However, these charged microparticles can also act to scatter electromagnetic signals. These experiments investigate microwave penetration through a previously impenetrable overly dense plasma layer as microparticles are injected and the physical phenomena associated with the competing processes that occur due to electron depletion and microwave scattering. The timescales for when each of these competing processes dominates is analyzed in detail. It was found that while both processes play a significant and dominant role at different times, ultimately, transmission through this impenetrable plasma layer can be significantly increased with microparticle injection.

OSTI ID:
22408384
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 22, Issue 4; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English