Electromagnetic waves scattering by nonuniform plasma cylinder

An analytical technique for obtaining a complete set of scattering coefficients for a stratified plasma cylinder is presented, referred to as the scattering matrix model (SMM). The plasma model chosen for the study is cold, steady-state, nonuniform, collisional and magnetised. The nonuniform cylinder is represented by a number of concentric cylindrical shells and each has a fixed electron density. The overall density profile follows any prescribed distribution function. The field in each layer is written in terms of an appropriate wave function weighted by unknown scattering coefficients. These coefficients are obtained by using successive application of boundary conditions. Another approximate analytical technique for solving such a problem is employed known as the impedance boundary conditions (IBC), which replaces the interior cylinder with an impedance surface. Results show that SMM and IBC give identical results as long as the application criteria of the IBC are satisfied. IBC has been found to be faster and requires relatively simpler formulation. The effect of varying the plasma parameters on the backscattering cross section is investigated.