Transient Analysis of High-Power Microwave Air Breakdown under External DC Magnetic Field

Abstract

This article concentrates on the high-power microwave (HPM) breakdown process and behaviors in air-filled rectangular waveguide under the external dc magnetic field. To solve the persuasive issue, a three-dimensional (3-D) multiphysics model coupling full-wave Maxwell’s equations with plasma fluid equations is established and solved by the spectral-element time-domain (SETD) method. In our simulation, the Galerkin’s method is employed for the space discretization and the central difference scheme is used for the temporal discretization during the SETD process. The numerical results reveal that the external dc magnetic field applied in breakdown volume can significantly enhance the breakdown threshold to suppress the HPM breakdown, which is beneficial for the propagation of HPM pulse in air-filled waveguide. Our research provides theoretical guidance for suppressing the impact of HPM breakdown for HPM devices protection.