Scattering of Electromagnetic Waves in Hypersonic Plasma: Numerical Simulations and Analysis

This paper presents a study on the scattering of electromagnetic waves in the plasma field surrounding hypersonic vehicles. The research focuses on analyzing the radar cross-section (RCS) of a cone-shaped blunt body under various suborbital altitudes (20 to 70 km) and Mach numbers (8 to 16) conditions. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis is employed to evaluate characteristic quantities of the plasma field, such as the electron plasma frequency, collision frequency, and permittivity. This work considers a collisional, inhomogeneous, and cold plasma electromagnetic wave propagation model. It uses two different approaches, namely an asymptotic ray-tracing model and a full-wave finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method, to compute the radar cross-section (RCS). Noticeable variations in the RCS induced by the plasma are observed, particularly in scenarios with elevated Mach numbers. This research provides insights into the complex interactions between electromagnetic waves and plasma in hypersonic flight conditions, contributing to the understanding of plasma-induced disturbances on radar systems.