Analysis of Electromagnetic Wave Propagation Characteristics in Dusty Plasma Containing Aluminum Metal Layer by Using BGK Model

Abstract

During hypersonic spacecraft flights, it is easy to produce metal particles containing aluminum (Al) or form a plasma sheath containing an Al metal layer to attach to the surface of the spacecraft, which leads to the interruption of radio communication. In this article, Using the Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook (BGK) collision model, this study calculates the transmission coefficient of electromagnetic (EM) waves in the inhomogeneous medium comprising fully ionized dusty plasma and Al layers through the scattering matrix method (SMM). The transport characteristics of left-circularly polarized and right-circularly polarized waves in inhomogeneous fully ionized dusty plasma containing an Al layer are analyzed in the presence of an external magnetic field. The effects of magnetic field intensity, Al layer thickness, and other dusty plasma parameters (dust particle density, dust particle radius, electron density, and effective collision frequency) on the propagation characteristics of EM waves in fully ionized dusty plasma and inhomogeneous media of Al are analyzed in the GHz band. The findings reveal that aluminum significantly impedes EM wave propagation, with increased Al layer thickness exacerbating the obstruction of EM waves penetrating the fully ionized dusty plasma. In addition, magnetic field intensity and different dusty plasma parameters also affect the propagation characteristics of EM waves in the fully ionized dusty plasma containing Al to different degrees. These results provide a theoretical basis for alleviating the blackouts problem of hypersonic spacecraft during flight.