Ruilin Gao

Propagation of electromagnetic waves in a weakly ionized dusty plasma

Propagation properties of electromagnetic (EM) waves in weakly ionized dusty plasmas are the subject of this study. Dielectric relation for EM waves propagating at a weakly ionized dusty plasma is derived based on the Boltzmann distribution law while considering the collision and charging effects of dust grains. The propagation properties of EM energy in dusty plasma of rocket exhaust are numerically calculated and studied, utilizing the parameters of rocket exhaust plasma. Results indicate that increase of dust radius and density enhance the reflection and absorption coefficient. High dust radius and density make the wave hardly transmit through the dusty plasmas. Interaction enhancements between wave and dusty plasmas are developed through effective collision frequency improvements. Numerical results coincide with observed results by indicating that GHz band wave communication is effected by dusty plasma as the presence of dust grains significantly affect propagation of EM waves in the dusty plasmas. The results are helpful to analyze the effect of dust in plasmas and also provide a theoretical basis for the experiments.

Study of γ-ray irradiation effect on permanent magnets

Irradiation damage of FeCrCo, AlNiCo, SmCo, and NdFeB permanent magnets was investigated by using γ-ray irradiation. Results of magnetic property measurement show that FeCrCo and NdFeB have more demagnetization than AlNiCo and SmCo. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that γ-ray irradiation leads to the increase of FeCrCo crystal mismatch and decrease of AlNiCo ordering degree. The investigations by positron annihilation spectroscopy technique show that the defects in AlNiCo and SmCo increase after γ-ray irradiation. The defects induced by γ-ray irradiation in NdFeB magnets are not the main source that leads to partial demagnetization. The irradiation resistances of these magnets are discussed in detail considering the thermal stability, coercivity mechanisms, and defect damage.

Propagation of electromagnetic waves in a weak collisional and fully ionized dusty plasma

The propagation properties of electromagnetic (EM) waves in fully ionized dusty plasmas is the subject of this study. The dielectric relationships for EM waves propagating in a fully ionized dusty plasma was derived from the Boltzmann distribution law, taking into consideration the collision and charging effects of the dust grains. The propagation properties of the EM waves in a dusty plasma were numerically calculated and studied. The study results indicated that the dusty grains with an increased radius and charge were more likely to impede the penetration of EM waves. Dust grains with large radii and high charge cause the attenuation of the EM wave in the dusty plasma. The different density of the dust in the plasma appeared to have no obvious effect on the transmission of the EM waves. The propagation of the EM waves in a weakly ionized dusty plasma varies from that in a fully ionized dusty plasma. The results are helpful to analyze the effects of dust in dusty plasmas and also provide a theoretical basis for future studies.

Investigation of Low-Pressure Glow Discharge in a Coaxial Gridded Hollow Cathode

This paper contains results of numerical and experimental investigation of glow discharge plasma created in a chamber of a new-type large-volume coaxial gridded hollow cathode. The discharge is created in argon at 25 Pa by applying time-varying power with frequency 20 kHz on electrodes. A 2-D model of the discharge was built using COMSOL Multiphysics. Self-consistent description of the discharge was obtained using the extended fluid approach, which couples continuity equations for charged particles and electron energy balance with Poissons equation for electric potential. Electron transport coefficients and rates of electron-impact reactions were calculated using the electron energy distribution function. The spatial and radial distributions of plasma potential (Vp), electron density (ne), and electron temperature (Te) were obtained. It is shown that the plasma inside the chamber is similar to the negative glow of a dc glow discharge. Comparison of numerical results with the Langmuir probe measurements of electron density and electron temperature is presented and showed a good agreement.

The terahertz characteristics of a sandwich type microplasma structure

Recently, major technical advances in developing intense terahertz (THz) sources have provided us with new opportunities to investigate characteristics of a high density microplasma with THz waves. In this paper, a simple sandwich type microplasma model is established. The finite-difference time-domain method using Z-transforms is utilized to simulate the characteristics of reflection, transmission, and absorption of THz waves in this microplasma structure. The effects of both the microplasma width and the permittivity of the outer medium on the propagation are analyzed, and the results show that the THz waves can be greatly influenced and modulated by the structure of the plasma slab and the outer medium. It is demonstrated that such plasma metamaterials exhibit some extraordinary properties in THz frequency range.

Broadband microwave propagation in a novel large coaxial gridded hollow cathode helium plasma

The broadband microwave propagating characteristics of a novel, large volume, coaxial gridded hollow cathode helium plasma is reported in this paper. The basic plasma parameters were determined using an Impedans Ltd. Langmuir probe under a variety of conditions. The transmission attenuation was recorded by using Scattering Parameters (S-parameters) of a vector network analyzer with the frequency range from 2 GHz to 18 GHz and a propagation model was established using the Z transform finite-difference time-domain method for simulating the transmission of microwave. The effects of both the gas pressure and the input power on the electromagnetic wave propagation are analyzed. The results showed that the computational and experimental results of transmission attenuation were in good agreements. Moreover, the electron density ne and the effective collision rate νc were found to play important roles in the propagation of microwave.

Properties of a large volume glow discharge helium plasma by measuring the broadband microwave phase shift in different pressures

A novel type of large cylindrical glow discharge helium plasma with a 50 cm diameter and a 40 cm thickness is presented, which is powered by dual reticular electrodes under an AC source with frequency 20 kHz. Microwave characteristics are studied using vector network analyzer with two broadband antennae ranging from 2 GHz to 18 GHz to measure the phase shift. The phase shift under varying gas pressure is used to calculate the electron density ne, which varies from 2.36 × 1016 m−3 to 11.2 × 1016 m−3 under different discharge conditions. The measured results provide a method to diagnose helium plasma with large volume, high pressure, and high collision rate, especially for the condition which the probe is not suitable.

Analytical calculations of intense Gaussian laser beam propagating in plasmas with relativistic collision correction

Theoretical investigations of a Gaussian laser beam propagating in relativistic plasmas have been performed with the WKB method and complex eikonal function. We consider the relativistic nonlinearity induced by intense laser beam, and present the relativistically generalized forms of the plasma frequency and electron collision frequency in plasmas. The coupled differential equations describing the propagation variations of laser beam are derived and numerically solved. The obtained simulation results present the similar variation tendency with experiments. By changing the plasma density, we theoretically analyze the feasibility of using a plasmas slab of a fixed thickness to compress the laser beam-width and acquire the focused laser intensity. The present work complements the relativistic correction of the electron collision frequency with reasonable derivations, promotes the theoretical approaching to experiments and provides effective instructions to the practical laser-plasma interactions.

Propagation characteristics of a Gaussian laser beam in plasma with modulated collision frequency

The propagation characteristics of a Gaussian laser beam in cold plasma with the electron collision frequency modulated by laser intensity are presented. The nonlinear dynamics of the ponderomotive force, which induce nonlinear self-focusing as opposed to spatial diffraction, are considered. The effective dielectric function of the Drude model and complex eikonal function are adopted in deriving coupled differential equations of the varying laser beam parameters. In the framework of ponderomotive nonlinearity, the frequency of electron collision in plasmas, which is proportional to the spatial electron density, is strongly interrelated with the laser beam propagation characteristics. Hence, the propagation properties of the laser beam and the modulated electron collision frequency distribution in plasma were studied and explained in depth. Employing this self-consistent method, the obtained simulation results approach practical conditions, which is of significance to the study of laser–plasma interactions.

Broadband microwave characteristics of a novel coaxial gridded hollow cathode argon plasma

The interaction between microwave and large area plasma is crucially important for space communication. Gas pressure, input power, and plasma volume are critical to both the microwave electromagnetic wave phase shift and electron density. This paper presents a novel type of large coaxial gridded hollow cathode plasma having a 50 cm diameter and a 40 cm thickness. Microwave characteristics are studied using a microwave measurement system that includes two broadband antennae in the range from 2 GHz to 18 GHz. The phase shift under varying gas pressure and input power is shown. In addition, the electron density ne, which varies from 1.2 × 10(16) m(-3) to 8.7 × 10(16) m(-3) under different discharge conditions, is diagnosed by the microwave system. The measured results accord well with those acquired by Langmuir Probe measurement and show that the microwave properties in the large volume hollow cathode discharge significantly depend on the input power and gas pressure.