Numerical modeling of plasma manipulation using an ExB layer in a hypersonic boundary layer

Abstract

When a vehicle flies with hypersonic velocity or re-enters the atmosphere, a weakly ionized plasma layer is generated around the vehicle due to the shock heated air. Since the created plasma layer has a high plasma number density, the vehicle has a communication problem known as radio blackout. In this study, we illustrate that an applied ExB layer can manipulate the plasma density in a specific region. The manipulated plasma reduces radio wave attenuation in the plasma layer and provides the possibility for communication during radio blackout. The possibility of the ExB layer mitigation scheme is evaluated in a realistic operating condition for a hypersonic flow in terms of signal attenuation.