Electromagnetic-wave absorption in a plasma-loaded rectangular waveguide
- Resource Type
- Conference
- Authors
- Santoru, J.; Gregoire, D.J.; Schumacher, R.W.
- Source
- 1990 Plasma Science IEEE Conference Record - Abstracts Plasma Science, 1990. IEEE Conference Record - Abstracts., 1990 IEEE International Conference on. :170-171 1990
- Subject
- Engineered Materials, Dielectrics and Plasmas
Plasmas
Absorption
Electrons
Electromagnetic waveguides
Attenuation
Reflection
Magnetic confinement
- Language
Summary form only given. Collisional absorption of electromagnetic (EM) waves is being investigated using a plasma-loaded, rectangular C-band waveguide. In initial experiments, EM-wave-attenuation up to the 13-dB dynamic-range limit of the crystal detectors was demonstrated. A three-gap spark array generated an inhomogeneous plasma near the center of the slotted waveguide. The attenuation increased from 0 to 13 dB as the electron density was increased by raising the spark-gap current to 850 A. Collisional absorption was also investigated as a function of the shape of the plasma-density profile and the electron collision frequency. A 20-gap spark array was employed to generate different plasma-density profiles, and a tuned receiver was used to extend the dynamic range of the system to >40 dB