Plasma electronic density manipulation based on orthogonal electromagnetic field

Orthogonal electromagnetic field method is a promising manipulation technique for reducing plasma electronic density and alleviating reentry communication blackout. Based on the mass and momentum conservation of ions, the physical model of Orthogonal electromagnetic field control is established. By analogy with the equations of fluid dynamics, an implicit scheme is applied which enables stable solutions of the physical model. The impact of applied electric field intensity and magnetic field intensity in the Orthogonal electromagnetic field control device on the plasma electronic density control effects is investigated using numerical simulation. It is found that the Lorenz force produced by electricity current and magnetic field makes the electronic drift, which reduces the local electronic density and results in an electrical-magnetic window. Higher voltage and stronger magnetic fields can lead to better control effects. At a fixed magnetic field intensity, the electronic density depends linearly on the voltage when the voltage is not high, but nonlinearity rises gradually when the voltage exceeds 100 V. A prototype of the electronic density control device is made and tested in the plasma testing platform. The plasma electronic density is measured using methods of radiation light spectrum and microwave interferometry, and a local low-density region is identified within the control region, validating the plasma drift and control effect on the electronic density by the Lorenz force.