Plasma-based Radar Cross Section Reduction

Abstract

The concealment of aircraft from radar sources or stealth is achieved either through shaping, or radar absorbing coatings, or engineered materials, or plasma, etc. Plasma-based stealth is a radar cross-section (RCS) reduction technique associated with the reflection and absorption of incident electromagnetic (EM) wave by the plasma layer surrounding the structure. Plasma cloud covering the aircraft may give rise to other signatures such as thermal, acoustic, infrared, or visual. Thus it is a matter of concern that the RCS reduction by plasma enhances its detectability due to other signatures. This needs a careful approach toward the plasma generation and its EM wave interaction. This book presents a comprehensive review of the plasma-based stealth, covering the basics, methods, parametric analysis, and challenges toward the realization of the idea. The book starts with the basics of EM wave interactions with plasma, briefly discusses the methods used to analyze the propagation characteristics of plasma, and its generation. It presents the parametric analysis of propagation behavior of plasma, and the challenges in the implementation of plasma-based stealth technology. This review serves as a starting point for graduate and research students, scientists, and engineers working in the area of low-observables and stealth technology.

Radar cross-section reduction by tunable low-pressure gas discharge plasma

“…Plasma RCS reduction is an attractive technique associated with the scattering and absorption of the incident wave by the plasma layer surrounding the structure [6]. Plasmas as a dispersive and active electromagnetic ambient are being raised in the plasmawave interaction.…”

Numerical study of the homogeneous and inhomogeneous magnetic field effects on the plasma‐based radar cross‐section reduction

“…An atmospheric pressure plasma is considered and it is assumed cold, collisional, and inhomogeneous. In a cold plasma, the effects of the electron temperature on the electron number density and electron‐neutral collision frequency are negligible [1]. For a lossy environment and locations far away from the source, the Maxwell curl equations are as follows: where E is the intensity of the electric field and D is the electric flux density.…”

“…In contrast, plasma as a non‐solid absorbent does not have the mentioned constraints and allows strong absorption with significant frequency bandwidth. Also, it has been reported that plasma‐based absorption is applicable in airplanes and satellites [1]. In addition to wave absorption, inhomogeneous plasma coating improves further attenuation of the backscattered wave, through wave bending from the high‐density regions to low density.…”

Magnetic line source diffraction by a conductive half‐plane in an anisotropic plasma

“…The scattering of waves by canonical structures buried in a plasma medium is a very interesting problem as plasma‐based stealth is directly related with the reduction technique of radar cross section (RCS). [ 1 ] A multilayer stealth structure composed of uniform plasma and radar‐absorbing material (RAM) was presented in a study focussed on overcoming some drawbacks of stealth technology. [ 2 ] Besides, the radiation characteristics of a satellite antenna tuned by a plasma load were investigated both theoretically and experimentally in a study.…”