Inversion of electron densities in plasma wakes of hypersonic targets

Abstract

Focusing on the plasma wakes of hypersonic targets (PWHT), this work provides a method for the inversion of electron densities in the PWHT by integrating electromagnetic radiation theory and three-wave coupling theory (TWCT). Utilizing the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method, taking a blunt cone as an example, the spatial distribution characteristics of electron densities in the plasma wake are simulated and analyzed in detail. The Zakharov system of equations (ZSE) is applied to the PWHT for the discussion about the electromagnetic radiation generated by plasma parametric instability. Combining the wavenumber spectrum of electromagnetic radiation and the TWCT, an inverse method of the electron densities of plasma wakes is proposed and applied to a blunt cone model. The results indicate that the inversion error rate is effectively held below 1.37 %. Furthermore, reasons for errors are elucidated through the utilization of the wavenumber spectrum structure. The proposed method may contribute to the development of hypersonic wake diagnostic techniques, and offer new insights and directions for wind tunnel experiments, shock tube experiments, as well as research on hypersonic target detection.