The “communication blackout” occurs during the reentry of hypersonic vehicles, that is, the electromagnetic wave cannot pass through the plasma sheath due to high electron density formed around the vehicle, which has drawn much attention but has not yet been solved. In this paper, a novel magnetic control approach is proposed, in which a periodic magnetic field is applied near the head of the aircraft. Based on the magnetohydrodynamic simulation, a low electron density channel across the plasma sheath of vehicle under the magnetic control is revealed for the first time, which probably make Ka-band electromagnetic wave pass through. We also find that the reason for the low electron density channel is the variation of the vortex structure in the plasma flow near the wall, by the electromagnetic force exerted on the flow. Furthermore, the optimal magnetic field frequency for generating the low electron density channel is obtained. These findings will be of significant benefit to the solutions for the communication blackout problems.
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March 2023
Research Article|
March 20 2023
Low electron density channel revealed in the plasma layer of hypersonic vehicle under a novel magnetic control
Special Collection:
Hypersonic Flow
Xiaojing Zheng
;
Xiaojing Zheng
(Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Project administration, Writing – review & editing)
1
Research Center for Applied Mechanics, School of Mechano-Electron Engineering, Xidian University
, Xi'an 710071, China
2
Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Space Extreme Detection
, Xi'an 710071, China
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Siyao Chen
;
Siyao Chen
(Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Writing – original draft)
1
Research Center for Applied Mechanics, School of Mechano-Electron Engineering, Xidian University
, Xi'an 710071, China
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Ke Jin
Ke Jin
a)
(Formal analysis, Investigation, Project administration, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing)
2
Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Space Extreme Detection
, Xi'an 710071, China
3
Research Center for Applied Mechanics, School of Aerospace Science and Technology, Xidian University
, Xi'an 710071, China
a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: kjin@xidian.edu.cn
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a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: kjin@xidian.edu.cn
Note: This paper is part of the special topic, Hypersonic Flow.
Physics of Fluids 35, 036118 (2023)
Article history
Received:
January 03 2023
Accepted:
February 26 2023
Citation
Xiaojing Zheng, Siyao Chen, Ke Jin; Low electron density channel revealed in the plasma layer of hypersonic vehicle under a novel magnetic control. Physics of Fluids 1 March 2023; 35 (3): 036118. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0141120
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