V2I7P42

Electromagnetic Wave Propagation and Radiation Through Plasma Domain

Williams Azibaneghe^1*, Dr. Ayibapreye Kelvin Benjamin²

Abstract

This study investigated the propagation and radiation of electromagnetic waves through a plasma environment. The key objectives were to simulate the behavior of plane electromagnetic waves in a lossy medium, analyze the corresponding electric and magnetic field intensities, examine the attenuation characteristics of millimeter waves in plasma, evaluate the reflection properties of transverse magnetic (TM)-polarized waves, and compare the attenuation trends of transverse electric (TE) and TM-polarized waves. A quantitative, simulation-based research approach was adopted, with MATLAB serving as the primary modeling tool due to its strong numerical and analytical capabilities. The study was grounded in Maxwell’s equations and fundamental wave theory, which were used to develop mathematical models for simulating wave interactions in both lossy and plasma media across a spatial range of 0 to 50 meters. Critical physical parameters such as electron density, plasma frequency, collision frequency, electrical conductivity, and permittivity were factored into the simulations. The results indicate that electromagnetic wave behavior in plasma is strongly influenced by these parameters. Attenuation was found to be more pronounced in lossy media than in plasma, and TM-polarized waves demonstrated higher reflection intensity compared to TE-polarized waves. The study concludes that a deep understanding of the interaction between wave properties and plasma parameters is vital for accurately predicting wave behavior in ionized environments. It is recommended that future studies incorporate experimental validation and expand the analysis to include a wider range of environmental conditions—such as varying frequencies and dynamic plasma states—to improve the reliability and practical relevance of simulation models for applications in telecommunications, radar systems, and space communication technologies.

Keywords:

Electromagnetic Wave Propagation, Plasma Medium, Attenuation, Transverse Polarization (TE/TM), MATLAB Simulation, Maxwell’s Equations