Effect of ion engine exhaust on the propagation of electromagnetic waves

Rocket Exhaust Scattering Effects on Incident Microwave Propagation Characteristics

“…Following Demetriades [16], Ne2(T2) can be expanded around T2 to give N,2(T2) = NIe2(T2) + (-)_ \AT2 + 2 _ (A T2) ( + )2 + Rashad [4] has shown that there is an isotropic change in the exhaust temperature T2 due to its turbulence and scattering within the surrounding medium. This is given by N.,=the density of electrons in the surrounding medium vo=the initial z directed velocity of the exhaust beam measured at the exit nozzle.…”

“…In region 11 (O< p <b), the electric field is given by k22I 00 Ez= -b,f,(k2p) e-n(-f') (4) 4w'E2n-o where k22 = W2/xE2 (5) and b,, is a coefficient to be determined from the boundary conditions between regions I and II. The q5 components of the corresponding magnetic field are given by (12), and (14) through (16), the scattered and transmitted magnetic and electric fields in regions I and II, respectively, can be calculated.…”

“…Let v be the collision frequency of the exhaust. The dielectric constant E2 of the exhaust was given by Rashad [4], [5] The exhaust plasma frequency w,2 depends upon the density of the electrons Ne2 in the exhaust. For solid propellants, the Saha equation is used to calculate the contribution of each species found in the exhaust, to the total density of electrons Ne2.…”