Characterization of Electron Number Density of Rocket Exhaust Plumes Through Microwave Transmissions

<p>Charged rocket plumes generally exceed the length of their source vehicles, and offer lightning a favorable path to ground. Rocket plumes enhance the induced transient currents in flight electronics, and increase the risk of vehicle failure. The affinity of lightning to the plume can be associated with the plume's electrical properties, which are coupled to plasma characteristics including the electron number density. However, the electron number density of rocket plumes is not well-known. In this study, the electron number density is characterized through data from static rocket firings. A model of the plume in finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations also supports the results. Radio frequency and radar methodologies are used to characterize the plume as a dynamic component of an electrical system, supported by the construction of an RF apparatus that includes the design and manufacture of ultra-wideband antenna arrays. The research estimates electron number density using methods exploiting signal processing techniques in time and frequency domain, but the data suggests that other dynamic elements influence delay and attenuation of the radio signal.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Electrical & Computer Engineering

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - Open Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical, Computer, Software, and Systems Engineering

Year

2014

Author dc:creator

• Torres, Jorge

• electron number
• density
• rocket exhaust
• microwave transmissions
• Electrical and Computer Engineering

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.erau.edu/edt/186

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.erau.edu:edt-1185