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When a supersonic spacecraft enters into the atmosphere of earth, part of the spacecraft's kinetic energy changes into thermal energy, thus causing the air surrounding the craft to be heated and compressed. As a result, the temperature near the surface may reach several thousands of kelvins, which leads the surface materials to be ionized and form a plasma sheath around the vehicle. This plasma layer has an electron density ranging from 1015m-3 to 1020m-3, and may interrupt the radio communication signal between the re-entry vehicle and ground-based stations, which is known as ‘communication blackout’. According to the radio attenuation measurement (RAM) experiments carried out by NASA(National Aeronautics and Space Administration) in the 1970s, the duration time of communication blackout ranges from 4 to 10 minutes in an altitude range from 40 km to 100 km. Communication blackout has puzzled aerospace industry for several decades, and has not yet been completely resolved. Due to this, it becomes necessary to understand the causes of communication blackout and the methods for its mitigation. Compared with other communication methods, x-ray communication(XCOM) has the advantages of short carrier wavelength and high photon energy, as well as strong ability to resist anti-interference, thus being able to open a novel way to solve this long-lasting unresolved problem. In this paper, to begin with, we analyze the transmission coefficiencies under different plasma electron densities and collision frequencies based on Wentzel Kramers Brillouin (WKB) approximation method. The simulation results indicate that the x-ray carrier is not influenced by the reentry plasma sheath. After that, a plasma source based on glow discharge is used to verify the mathematical model. The non-magnetized unobstructed plasma region is
$\varPhi $ 200 mm × 180 mm, which can be used for simulating plasma sheath near the reenter spacecraft. Then the transmission coefficiency, energy spectrum similarity and energy spectrum peak offset under different x-ray energy, x-ray flow and plasma electron density are firstly analyzed. Experimental results indicate that plasma can lead the x-ray signal to be attenuated to a certain extent, the increase of plasma electron density will cause higher attenuation. However, with a higher signal x-ray energy and x-ray flow, the XCOM could achieve less attenuation in the re-enter plasma layer. When the plasma electron density ranges from 6 × 1016/m3 to 1.2 × 1017/m3, 1.34 Mcps signal x-ray photons’ flow with 20 kV anode voltage would achieve more than a 95% transmission efficiency. Also, the spectrum of x-ray signal can obtain more than 95.5% similarity and the peak offset is less than 1.3% after passing the plasma sheath. Subsequently, based on the original mathematic model and experimental results, considering the free-free absorption, free-bound absorption, bound-bound absorption and scattering effect of x-ray photons in plasma, the x-ray transmission characteristics are optimized to make simulation results well consistent with the experiment results. Finally, an MCNP (Monte Carlo N Particle) transport simulation is used to analyze the feasibility of XCOM in blackout region, which indicates that the energy range 15—25 keV is the suitable to achieve the XCOM in adjacent space, and the relation of potential transmitting speed with bit error is calculated. Theoretically, the XCOM can achieve about 1.3 Mbps communication speed in blackout region. In summary, these theoretical and experimental results indicate that the XCOM is a potential and novel method to solve the blackout communication problems.-
Keywords:
- X-ray communication /
- plasma sheath /
- transmission co-efficiency
[1] Liu Z, Bao W, Li X, et al. 2015 IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 43 3147Google Scholar
[2] 王家胜, 杨显强 2014 航天器工程 23 1Google Scholar
Wang J S, Yang X Q 2014 Spacecraft Engineering 23 1Google Scholar
[3] Zhou H, Li X P, Xie K 2017 AIP Adv. 10 105314
[4] Zhang Y, Liu Y 2017 IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag. 65 940948
[5] Li J, Yang S, Guo L, et al. 2017 Opt. Commun. 396 1Google Scholar
[6] Li H, Tang X, Hang S, et al. 2017 J. Appl. Phys. 12 123101
[7] Kim M, Keidar M 2010 J. Spacecraft Rockets 47 1Google Scholar
[8] 杨敏, 李小平, 刘彦明等 2014 63 085201Google Scholar
Yang M, Li X P, Liu Y M, et al. 2014 Acta Phys. Sin. 63 085201Google Scholar
[9] Jones W L, Cross A E 1972 Electron Static Probe Measurements of Plasma Parameters for Two Reentry Flight Experiments at 25000 Feet Per Second. (Hampton: Langley Research Center) NASA-TN-D-6617
[10] Beiser A, Raab B 1961 Hydromagnetic and Plasma Scaling Law 4 2
[11] Gregoire D J, Santoru J 1992 Hydrol. Res. Lett. 5 7
[12] 朱冰 2006 博士学位论文 (西安: 西北工业大学)
Zhu B 2006 Ph. D. Dissertation (Xi’an: Northwestern Polytechnical University) (in Chinese)
[13] 李伟 2010 博士学位论文 (哈尔滨: 哈尔滨工业大学)
Li W 2010 Ph. D. Dissertation (Harbin: Harbin Institute of Technology) (in Chinese)
[14] 袁承勋 2010 博士学位论文(哈尔滨: 哈尔滨工业大学)
Yuan C X 2010 Ph. D. Dissertation (Harbin: Harbin Institute of Technology) (in Chinese)
[15] Zheng L, Zhao Q, Liu S, et al. 2012 Progress in Electromagnetics Research 24 179Google Scholar
[16] 刘智惟, 包为民, 李小平 2014 23 235201Google Scholar
Liu Z W, Bao W M, Li X P 2014 Acta Phys. Sin. 23 235201Google Scholar
[17] Dan L, Guo L X, Li J T 2018 Phys. Plasmas 25 013707Google Scholar
[18] Dr. Keith Gendreau talk about NICEER and Modulate X-ray Source[EB/OL]. http://www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/24-ntb/features[2018-11-05]
[19] 宋诗斌 2016 博士学位论文(西安: 西安电子科技大学).
Song S B 2016 Ph. D. Dissertation (Xi’an: Xidian University) (in Chinese)
[20] 牟欢, 李保权, 曹阳 2016 65 140703Google Scholar
Mu H, Li B Q, Cao Y 2016 Acta Phys. Sin. 65 140703Google Scholar
[21] 姜明 2004 博士学位论文(成都: 四川大学)
Jiang M 2004 Ph. D. Dissertation (Chengdu:Sichuan University) (in Chinese)
[22] 曾交龙 2001 博士学位论文(长沙: 国防科技大学)
Zeng J L 2001 Ph. D. Dissertation (Changsha: National University of Defense Technology ) (in Chinese)
[23] 谢楷 2014 博士学位论文(西安: 西安电子科技大学)
Xie K 2014 Ph. D. Dissertation (Xi’an: Xidian University) (in Chinese)
[24] 刘舵, 强鹏飞, 李林森 等 2016 65 010703Google Scholar
Liu D, Qiang P F, Li L S, et al. 2016 Acta Phys. Sin. 65 010703Google Scholar
[25] 刘舵, 强鹏飞, 李林森等 2016 光学学报 36 0834002
Liu D, Qiang P F, Li L S, et al. 2016 Acta Opt. Sin. 36 0834002
[26] 苏桐, 李瑶, 盛立志等 2017 光子学报 46 212219
Su T, Li Y, Sheng L Z, et al. 2017 Acta Photon. Sin. 46 212219
[27] 徐能, 盛立志, 张大鹏 等 2017 66 334340
Xu N, Sheng L Z, Zhang D P, et al. 2017 Acta Phys. Sin. 66 334340
[28] Song S B, Xu L P, Zhang H, et al. 2015 Sensor 15 325342
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表 1 各种等离子体发生装置及其比较
Table 1. Various plasma generating devices and their comparison.
等离子体产生方法 最高电子密度 持续时间 可控性 成本 辉光放电 1017/m3 连续 好 低 激波管 > 1020/m3 亚毫秒级 一般 高 发动机喷流 > 1020/m3 几百毫秒 一般 高 载飞 真实鞘套 4—10 min 无法控制 极高 表 2 不同射频电源功率下的等离子体参数
Table 2. Different electron density and collision frequency under various RF power.
射频电源功率/W 等离子体电子密度/m3 碰撞频率/MHz 300 6.2 × 1016 428 500 9.1 × 1016 491 700 1.05 × 1017 494 1000 1.23 × 1017 523 表 3 不同条件下理论与实验结果对比
Table 3. Experimental and theoretical results under various condition.
实验条件 WKB法 实验结果 理论值 电子密度/m-3: 6.2 × 1016阳极高压/kV: 15 流量5.41 kcps 99.98% 67.84% 70.12% 流量 1.3 Mcps 93.74% 95.22% 电子密度/m-3: 1.05 × 1017阳极高压/kV: 20 流量7.52 kcps 99.91% 57.41% 54.65% 流量 0.82 Mcps 82.88% 84.07% 电子密度/m-3: 1.23 × 1017阳极高压/kV: 25 流量21.86 kcps 99.88% 59.78% 61.32% 流量 2.8 Mcps 94.04% 96.81% -
[1] Liu Z, Bao W, Li X, et al. 2015 IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 43 3147Google Scholar
[2] 王家胜, 杨显强 2014 航天器工程 23 1Google Scholar
Wang J S, Yang X Q 2014 Spacecraft Engineering 23 1Google Scholar
[3] Zhou H, Li X P, Xie K 2017 AIP Adv. 10 105314
[4] Zhang Y, Liu Y 2017 IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag. 65 940948
[5] Li J, Yang S, Guo L, et al. 2017 Opt. Commun. 396 1Google Scholar
[6] Li H, Tang X, Hang S, et al. 2017 J. Appl. Phys. 12 123101
[7] Kim M, Keidar M 2010 J. Spacecraft Rockets 47 1Google Scholar
[8] 杨敏, 李小平, 刘彦明等 2014 63 085201Google Scholar
Yang M, Li X P, Liu Y M, et al. 2014 Acta Phys. Sin. 63 085201Google Scholar
[9] Jones W L, Cross A E 1972 Electron Static Probe Measurements of Plasma Parameters for Two Reentry Flight Experiments at 25000 Feet Per Second. (Hampton: Langley Research Center) NASA-TN-D-6617
[10] Beiser A, Raab B 1961 Hydromagnetic and Plasma Scaling Law 4 2
[11] Gregoire D J, Santoru J 1992 Hydrol. Res. Lett. 5 7
[12] 朱冰 2006 博士学位论文 (西安: 西北工业大学)
Zhu B 2006 Ph. D. Dissertation (Xi’an: Northwestern Polytechnical University) (in Chinese)
[13] 李伟 2010 博士学位论文 (哈尔滨: 哈尔滨工业大学)
Li W 2010 Ph. D. Dissertation (Harbin: Harbin Institute of Technology) (in Chinese)
[14] 袁承勋 2010 博士学位论文(哈尔滨: 哈尔滨工业大学)
Yuan C X 2010 Ph. D. Dissertation (Harbin: Harbin Institute of Technology) (in Chinese)
[15] Zheng L, Zhao Q, Liu S, et al. 2012 Progress in Electromagnetics Research 24 179Google Scholar
[16] 刘智惟, 包为民, 李小平 2014 23 235201Google Scholar
Liu Z W, Bao W M, Li X P 2014 Acta Phys. Sin. 23 235201Google Scholar
[17] Dan L, Guo L X, Li J T 2018 Phys. Plasmas 25 013707Google Scholar
[18] Dr. Keith Gendreau talk about NICEER and Modulate X-ray Source[EB/OL]. http://www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/24-ntb/features[2018-11-05]
[19] 宋诗斌 2016 博士学位论文(西安: 西安电子科技大学).
Song S B 2016 Ph. D. Dissertation (Xi’an: Xidian University) (in Chinese)
[20] 牟欢, 李保权, 曹阳 2016 65 140703Google Scholar
Mu H, Li B Q, Cao Y 2016 Acta Phys. Sin. 65 140703Google Scholar
[21] 姜明 2004 博士学位论文(成都: 四川大学)
Jiang M 2004 Ph. D. Dissertation (Chengdu:Sichuan University) (in Chinese)
[22] 曾交龙 2001 博士学位论文(长沙: 国防科技大学)
Zeng J L 2001 Ph. D. Dissertation (Changsha: National University of Defense Technology ) (in Chinese)
[23] 谢楷 2014 博士学位论文(西安: 西安电子科技大学)
Xie K 2014 Ph. D. Dissertation (Xi’an: Xidian University) (in Chinese)
[24] 刘舵, 强鹏飞, 李林森 等 2016 65 010703Google Scholar
Liu D, Qiang P F, Li L S, et al. 2016 Acta Phys. Sin. 65 010703Google Scholar
[25] 刘舵, 强鹏飞, 李林森等 2016 光学学报 36 0834002
Liu D, Qiang P F, Li L S, et al. 2016 Acta Opt. Sin. 36 0834002
[26] 苏桐, 李瑶, 盛立志等 2017 光子学报 46 212219
Su T, Li Y, Sheng L Z, et al. 2017 Acta Photon. Sin. 46 212219
[27] 徐能, 盛立志, 张大鹏 等 2017 66 334340
Xu N, Sheng L Z, Zhang D P, et al. 2017 Acta Phys. Sin. 66 334340
[28] Song S B, Xu L P, Zhang H, et al. 2015 Sensor 15 325342
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