Numerical Investigation of Propagation Characteristics of TE Waves Incident Obliquely to Reentry Plasma Sheath with Bi-Gaussian Electron Density Profile Based on SMM

The analysis of the propagation characteristics of electromagnetic wave in reentry plasma layer is an important issue in fields of spacecraft control, communication and stealth technology, which has attracted the attention of many researchers in last decades. In this paper, the propagation characteristics of obliquely incident TE waves into reentry plasma sheath with bi-Gaussian electron density profile are investigated by using the scattering matrix method (SMM). Based on the matching condition of electromagnetic wave (EM) in multilayer plasmas, the scattering matrix equations of the oblique-incident TE waves are derived and the reflection, transmission and absorption characteristics with incident angle, plasma electron density distribution, and collision frequency are respectively studied. The computational results showed that the reflectance, transmittance, and absorptance change significantly with the incident angle, electron density profile, and collision frequency when the TE wave propagates obliquely into the plasma sheath. In addition, the higher the frequency, the more the reflection vibrations are, and the transmittance and the absorptance peaks move from low to high frequencies with increasing incidence angle, electron density profile and collision frequency. The present method and results may contribute to establish an alternate methodology to overcome the communication blackout by plasma formed around the vehicle during reentry into atmosphere.