Study of the influence of time-varying plasma sheath on radar echo signal

Abstract

The time-varying plasma sheath surrounding a reentry spacecraft (or object) can influence the radar detection of the spacecraft seriously, causing detection error or even track loss. To study the influence of plasma sheath on radar detection, a time-varying plasma sheath model based on scattering matrix method is constructed. In the model, the surface media of reentry object is considered, together with some algorithm adjustments to avoid computational singularity, and the time-varying characteristics of plasma sheath are taken into account based on available measured data. By the model, the reflection coefficient of plasma sheath and the radar echo reflected by plasma-covered object are both calculated. And then a processing method of time-varying echo signal based on ambiguity function are put forward, by which the time delay and Doppler frequency of echo signal are analyzed. In the simulation, the rules of a series of time-varying parameters of plasma affecting the reflection coefficient are analyzed. Then, by ambiguity function analysis, the influence rules of plasma sheath on radar echo are revealed, accompanied by some qualitative and quantitative results. The proposed model, method, and simulation results are thought to be helpful for the radar detection of plasma-covered reentry objects.