Density modification by two superposing TE10 modes in a plasma filled rectangular waveguide

Abstract

Microwave and plasma interaction is examined via two fundamental TE10 modes propagating in a plasma filled rectangular waveguide after superposing at a smaller angle. The propagation of the resultant mode realized from these two modes is governed by a wave equation obtained using the Maxwell's equations. This equation is solved numerically using fourth order Runge-Kutta method for the field amplitude of the microwave in the waveguide considering the waveguide to be made up of a perfect conductor and filled with different types of initial plasma density distributions, viz. homogeneous density, linear density with gradient in the propagation direction, and the density with Gaussian profile along the waveguide width. A phenomenon similar to the duct formation by high power microwaves is found to take place, where the plasma density attains interesting profiles. These profiles can be controlled by the angle of superposition, phase difference between the fields of the two modes, microwave frequency and microwave field amplitude.