The Propagation of an Electromagnetic Wave through a Diffusing Plasma

The propagation of an electromagnetic wave through a fully ionized diffusing plasma slab is investigated. The slab is considered to be diffusing in an ambipolar fashion, with the electron-ion collision frequency proportional to the spatial and time varying ion density. The propagation characteristics of the wave are shown to be dependent on the relationship between np and nc, the densities where the signal frequency is equal to the plasma frequency and collision frequency respectively. This relationship is temperature dependent. The reflection and transmission coefficients of the plasma are calculated as a function of signal frequency, and their behavior as the slab diffuses is investigated.