Antenna in Plasma (AIP) Code

Timothy W. Chevalier Umran S. Inan Timothy F. Bell March 4, 2008

Stanford MURI Tasks

Scientific Issues:
The sheath surrounding an electric dipole antenna operating in a plasma has a significant effect on the tuning properties. Terminal impedance characteristics vary with applied voltage. Active tuning may be needed.

Stanford has developed a general AIP code to determine sheath effects on radiation process.

MURI Tasks:
Validation of our AIP code by laboratory experiments using LAPD. UCLA will provide time measurements of voltage, current and field patterns for dipole antennas to compare with Stanford model. Locate sources of error in current model and identify means for improvement.
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Perform LAPD experiments on magnetic loop antennas.

Outline
1. Introduction 2. Cold Plasma Electromagnetic Model

3. Current Distribution and Impedance Results

4. Warm Plasma Electrostatic Model 5. Plasma Sheath Results

Coupling Regions
Sheath Region ( R m in )
Near field Reactive Energy (ES) Highly nonlinear

Warm Plasma Region (R )

Transition zone Reactive/Radiated Energy (EM & ES) Nonlinear effects still important

Cold Plasma ) (RRegion

ES: Electrostatic EM: Electromagnetic

Far field Radiated Energy (EM) Linear environment

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Modeling Methodology
Near field antenna characteristics Electrically short dipole antennas ES & EM approaches

(Poisson/Maxwell)-Vlasov Formulation @f F @t

+ (v r r )f +

f =0

~ +vB ~) F = q (E

(Poisson) (Maxwell)

rE ~ = o ( P rH ~ ~ = ~ + dE J o N dt rE ~ ~ = dH
o dt
4

(Lorentz Force)

Moments of Vlasov Equation

@ f F F (v ) = r f + (v r r )f + v @t m

Nth moment 8 F > > m (v )d v

M nth = ZZZ > <
v

m v F (v )d v u ] [v u ] F (v u ) d (v u ) > m [ v > > : m [v u ] [v u ] [v u] F ( v u )d ( v u )

v phase space velo city u average ow velo city

c = [v u] random velo city due to thermal motions

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Fluid Representation of Plasma

Fluid Moments

@t ( n m ) + r ( n m u ) = 0 (0th: mass density) @t ( n m u ) + r ( n m u u + P ) n q ( E + u B ) = 0 (1st: momentum).. P g sym = 0 @ (P ) + r (u P + Q ) + fP r (u) +

(2nd: pressure)......

(3rd: heat flux)

@t ( Q ) + r ( v Q + R ) + f Q r ( u ) +

Q P r ( P ) 1 g s ym = 0 c nm

u average ow velo city vector P p re s s u r e t e n s o r Q h e at u x te n sor R r-moment tensor u P = t e n s o r p r o d u ct

Fluid Variables

numb er density

E electric eld vector B magnetic eld vector m m a ss q charge

c

Additional Variables

gyrofrequency vector
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Outline
1. Introduction 2. Cold Plasma Electromagnetic Model

3. Current Distribution and Impedance Results

4. Warm Plasma Electrostatic Model 5. Plasma Sheath Results

Cold Plasma Fluid Approximation

Fluid Description: @ (nm) + r (nmu) = 0
t

@t (nmu) + r (nmuu + P) nq (E + u B) = 0 @t (P) + r (uP + Q) + fP r(u) + c Pgsym = 0

@t (Q) + r (vQ + R) + fQ r(u) +

Q Pr (P) 1 gsym = 0 c nm

Closure P = nkT Assumption: =0

Ohms Law ~ Generalized dJ q ~ = q n E ~ +J ~ B ~ + J o dt m

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Finite Difference Time and Frequency Domain Techniques (FDTD/FDFD)

rH ~ =

~ rE ~ = dH o dt ~ dJ q ~ = q n E ~ +J ~ B ~ + J o dt m

TimeX Domain~ (FDTD)

~ + dE J o dt
N

FDTD Method:
Time domain solution of Maxwells equations. Wide spread use in EM community
X Domain (FDFD) Frequency ~ ~ = = = E + o j ! E rE ~ j ! H ~ o
N

rH ~

Computational Mesh:

o ! 2 ( j ! I 0 p @ ! bz ! by

) 1 1 ! ! bz by ! A bx !
bx

Solves: Ax=B
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Outline
1. Introduction 2. Cold Plasma Electromagnetic Model

3. Current Distribution and Impedance Results

4. Warm Plasma Electrostatic Model 5. Plasma Sheath Results

Cold Plasma Simulation Setup

Computational Domain:

Antenna Properties
Length: 100 m Diameter: 20 cm Orientation: Perpendicular to Bo Position: Equatorial Plane

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Current Distribution for 100 m Antenna in Freespace

Current distribution on linear antenna

Excitation frequency: 10 kHz

2 / I I o s in

L z 2

L= 2

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Current Distributions for 100 m Antenna at L=2

Excitation frequency: f < fLHR Excitation frequency: f > fLHR

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Simulation vs. Theory

Previous Analytical Work
[Wang and Bell., 1969,1970] [Wang., 1970] [Bell et. al., 2006]

R Formula Input Impedance ~ dl) ( E V (f ) Zin = = H f eed ~ dl) I (f ) ( H L=3

f eed

L=2

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Conclusions Based upon Cold Plasma Approximation

Current distribution is triangular for cases demonstrated.
This result supports triangular assumption made in early analytical work.

Input impedance does not vary significantly as a function of frequency

The same antenna can be used over a broad frequency range; self tuning property.

Early analytical work should provide accurate estimates of radiation pattern of dipole antennas in a magnetoplasma [Wang and Bell., 1972]. What about the Sheath?

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Outline
1. Introduction 2. Cold Plasma Electromagnetic Model

3. Current Distribution and Impedance Results

4. Warm Plasma Electrostatic Model 5. Plasma Sheath Results

Warm Plasma Fluid Approximation

Isothermal Approximation (2-moments) r
@t (nm) + (nmu) = 0 @t (nmu) + r (nmuu + P) nq (E + u B) = 0 @t (P) + r (uP + Q) + fP r(u) + c Pgsym = 0 @t (Q) + r (vQ + R) + fQ r(u) + Q Pr (P) 1 gsym = 0 c nm

Closure P = nkAssumption: T Adiabatic r Approximation (3-moments)

@t (nm) + (nmu) = 0 @t (nmu) + r (nmuu + P) nq (E + u B) = 0 @t (P) + r (uP + Q) + fP r(u) + c Pgsym = 0 @t (Q) + r (vQ + R) + fQ r(u) + Q Pr (P) 1 gsym = 0 c nm

Closure Assumption: rQ=0

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Electrostatic Approximation
Nonlinear Equations m in Sheath region < Time domain approach Electrostatic approach is valid Constant Voltage

Poissons P Equation
rE ~ = o

Removes EM time-stepping constraint Avoids problems associated with PML

Triangular current distribution

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Outline
1. Introduction 2. Cold Plasma Electromagnetic Model

3. Current Distribution and Impedance Results

4. Warm Plasma Electrostatic Model 5. Plasma Sheath Results

Warm Plasma Simulation Setup (2-D)

Computational Domain:

Antenna Properties
Length: Infinite in z-direction Diameter: 10 cm Position: Equatorial Plane

Plasma Properties
L=2:
N = 2e9 #/m3 fpe = 400 kHz fpi = 28 kHz fce = 110 kHz fci = 550 Hz

L=3:
N = 1e9 #/m3 fpe = 284 kHz fpi = 20 kHz fce = 33 kHz fci = 163 Hz

Fluid closure relations:

Isothermal -T moments) P =(2 nk
Adiabatic (3 moments) rQ = 0

mi = 200 m Mass ratio: e

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Simulation of Infinite Line Source

Simulation Properties

Plane of symmetry:

25 kHz sinusoid
f>fpi

No magnetic field

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Simulation of Infinite Line Source

Simulation Properties
25 kHz sinusoid
f>fpi

No magnetic field

Plane of symmetry:

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Simulation of Infinite Line Source

Simulation Properties
25 kHz sinusoid
f>fpi

No magnetic field

Plane of symmetry:

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IV Characteristics (Sinusoid)
15 kHz (f < fpi)
Non-magnetized Non-magnetized

25 kHz (f > fpi)

Magnetized

Magnetized

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IV Characteristics (Pulse)
15 kHz (f < fpi)
Non-magnetized Non-magnetized

25 kHz (f > fpi)

Magnetized

Magnetized

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Warm Plasma Simulation Setup (3-D)

Computational Domain:

Antenna Properties
Length: 20 m Gap: 2 m Diameter: 10 cm Position: Equatorial Plane Electron gun (removes charge)

Plasma Properties
L=2:
N = 2e9 #/m3 fpe = 400 kHz fpi = 28 kHz fce = 110 kHz fci = 550 Hz m

L=3:
N = 1e9 #/m3 fpe = 284 kHz fpi = 20 kHz fce = 33 kHz fci = 163 Hz

Mass ratio: me

= 200

Adiabatic (full pressure tensor)

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Simulation of 20 m Dipole at L=3

Orthographic Projection Potential and Density Variation

Current-Voltage Gap Current

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Simulation of 20 m Dipole at L=3 with 20 cm Gap

Orthographic Projection Potential and Density Variation

Current-Voltage Gap Current

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Simulation of 20 m Dipole at L=3 without Electron Gun

Orthographic Projection Potential and Density Variation

Current-Voltage

Gap Current

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Circuit Diagrams

Diagram of Sheath Impedance:

Tuning Circuit

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Conclusions Based upon Sheath Calculations

Sheath structure is periodic with both sinusoid and pulse waveform excitation.
Sheath is a quasi-steady state structure.

Proton densities vary significantly throughout sheath region and contribute to current collection.
Commonly used assumption of immobile protons within sheath region for frequencies above and below proton plasma frequency is not necessarily accurate. Most notable in case of floating antenna.

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Validity of Fluid Code for Sheath Region

Ma and Schunk [1992], Thiemann et al. [1992]: Compared PIC and 2-moment fluid codes with diagonal pressure tensors surrounding spherical electrodes stepped to 10,000V.
Noisy PIC simulations agreed with results of fluid code with addition of more particles
Under-sampled distribution functions in PIC code are inherently noisy.

Plasma ringing and double layer formation was captured in both fluid and PIC simulations.
Very good qualitative agreement

Borovsky [1988], Calder and Laframboise[1990], Calder et al. [1993]: PIC simulations of spherical electrodes stepped to very large potentials.
Calder and Laframboise [1990], noted ringing effects could be driven to large amplitude by ion-electron two steam instability which a fluid code can capture.
No presence of electron-electron two-stream instability in any of the PIC simulations

Landau damping is negligible since the phase velocity of waves within the sheath region are generally different than thermal velocities.
No need to capture this effect in fluid code.

Though particle trapping within sheath is possible (mainly slow moving ions), the relatively small number of trapped particles results a minimal deviation of the potential variation within the sheath. A fluid code can provide an accurate and more computationally efficient method for 32 the determination of sheath characteristics!