2P23 2P24

FDTD Simulation of Electromagnetic Wave Nonlinear Trapping Simulations or Helicon

Transformation in a Dynamic Inhomogeneous, Plasma Sources
Bounded and Magnetized Plasma H. Gui and J.E. Scharer, University of Wisconsin,
D.K. Kalluri and J.H. Lee, University of Massachusetts - Madison, WI 53706-1687, USA
Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USA

FDTD Simulation of Electromagnetic Wave Nonlinear Trapping Simulations for Helicon Plasma
Transformation in a Dynamic, Inhomogeneous, Bounded, Sources’
and Magnetized Plasma
H . Gui and J. E. Scharer
D. K. Kalluri & J. H. Lee Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Electromagnetics and Complex Media Research Laboratory University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Lowell, MA 0 1854 The nonlinear trapping process is an important effect which may
contribute to the extraordinary high wave damping rate of helicon
sources. We are developing a numerical simulation method and
The electromagnetic wave transformations in a code to study nonlinear phenomena in plasmas with complex wave
dynamic, inhomogeneous, bounded, and magnetized plasma structure. An open system with a steady-state initial distribution
medium are studied by using the Finite-Difference Time- function is considered. In the case of low density(n<10”/cm3)
Domain method (FDTD). A Lorentz plasma model is used where collision effects can be neglected, the distribution function
and the source frequency of the waves is considered high as a function of time and space is obtained by solving the mo-
enough that ion motions are neglected. The frequency tion equation and tracing particle trajectories back to the start-
ing point. Our simulation results for a sinusoidal wave field show
shifting characteristics are extensively studied. The
that trapped electrons with wave-particle phase confined within
successive reduction method is developed to find frequencies a range of phase less than 2n appear as the wave field intensity
and amplitudes of the fields from the time series generated by increases, and the distribution function shows bunching of fast
the FDTD simulation. The method is superior to the particles around 40 eV a t an E, field intensity of 100V/m. We
conventional FFT method. are studying the effects of a wave number spectrum, a frequency
In one-dimensional problems, time-only formulation spectrum, and field components including p V z B, and E l in addi-
is used for unbounded problems and for the periodic tion to the electrostatic E, on the nonlinear trapping process. The
problems, one unit cell space formulation is used. For the modelling of wave fields are based on the simulation results from
our ANTENA 11” and MAXEB’ codes. We will also carry out
plasma slab, total fieldscattered field formulation and PML the simulation utilizing MAGIC Particle-In-Cell code and com-
absorption boundary condition are used to implement parison between these two approaches will be discussed. We will
compact size FDTD code. The FDTD method is compared at the same time compare our simulation results with current ex-
with approximate analytical methods (perturbation method periments being carried out on our helicon experimental facility.
and WKB method) and the validity ranges of those analytical
methods are obtained. Acknowledgments
*This work was supported by NSF Grant No. ECS-9632377.
It is shown that the source wave is modified when the
change of plasma density is slow while new modes are Mouzouris and J . Scharer; IEEE Trans. Plasma Science.
generated when the change of the plasma density is fast. It is 24(1): 152. 1996.
‘Y. Mouzouris and J . E. Scharer; Phys. Plasmas. 5(12): 4253.
also verified that when the source wave is a whistler wave, 1998.
collapsing of the plasma medium generates frequency
upshifting with power intensification and the switching off
the external magnetic field generates a wiggler wave.
The modes generated by switched periodic
magnetoplasma layers are studied. The characteristics of
additional downshifted modes due to the presence of the
static magnetic field are discussed.
For the case of the three-dimensional anisotropic
problem, a new FDTD formulation is implemented by
positioning the current density vector at the center of the
Yee’s cube. Appropriate time stepping algorithm is used to
obtain accurate solution for arbitrary values of the collision
frequency and the electron cyclotron frequency.
The technique is illustrated by calculating the
frequency shifts in a cavity due to a switched magnetoplasma
medium with a time-varying and space-varying electron
density profile.
The algorithms developed make it possible to
simulate many of the complex problems associated with
using a laboratory generated practical switched
magnetoplasma as a frequency transformer.

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