Frequency up-conversion for the reflectionless propagation of a high-power microwave pulse in a self-generated plasma

S. P. Kuo, A. Ren, Y. S. Zhang

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

Abstract

In the study of the propagation of high power microwave pulse, one of the main concerns is how to minimize the energy loss of the pulse before reaching the destination. In the very high power region, one has to prevent the cutoff reflection caused by the excessive ionization in the background air. A frequency auto-conversion process which can lead to reflectionless propagation of powerful EM pulses in self-generated plasmas is studied. The theory shows that under the proper condition the carrier frequency ω of the pulse will indeed shift upward with the growth of plasma frequency ω-pe$/. Thus, the plasma during breakdown will always remain transparent to the pulse (i.e., ω > ω-pe$/). A chamber experiment to demonstrating the frequency auto-conversion during the pulse propagation through the self-generated plasma is then conducted in a chamber. The detected frequency shift is compared with the theoretical result calculated by using the measured electron density distribution along the propagation path of the pulse. Good agreement between the theory and the experiment results is obtained.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)272-280
Number of pages9
JournalProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume1407
StatePublished - 1991
EventIntense Microwave and Particle Beams II - Los Angeles, CA, USA
Duration: Jan 21 1991Jan 24 1991

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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