Coupling Simulation on Two-dimensional Axisymmetric Beaming Propulsion System

Abstract

A two-dimensional (2D) axisymmetric fluid modeling for plasma dynamics was coupled with an electromagnetic wave propagation to capture the electromagnetic wave and plasma structures on the microwave-driven in-tube accelerator (MITA) concept. The electromagnetic wave injected into a waveguide was focused on at the vehicle’s rear side through reflection processes by the front mirror and the waveguide. An overcritical plasma was created at the high-intensity electric field region because of enhancement of an electron-impact ionization. The incident microwave was reflected by the plasma with overcritical density and a standing wave was induced in front of the dense plasma because the reflected wave overlapped with the incident microwave. In addition to wave enhancement by standing process, the strong electric field region was obtained at edges of the overcritical plasma because of wave diffraction, which can affect a shock wave strength and thrust performance of the MITA.