Transmission of Electromagnetic Waves through an Ionized Layer in the Presence of a Strong Magnetic Field

It is well known that the dielectric property of an ionized gas in the presence of a steady magnetic field is of tensorial character. Two of the three distinct components of this tensor are functions of the steady magnetic field. Generally, these two components decrease in magnitude with an increase of the steady magnetic field, thereby improving transmission of an RF wave. The effect of a strong steady magnetic field on the transmission of an RF wave through a homogeneous and a stratified layer of ionized gas is illustrated by means of graphs. The graphs are based on certain fixed values of electron densities and collision frequencies and on certain fixed values of a steady magnetic field oriented parallel or normal to the interface, while the normally incident plane wave is either linearly or circularly polarized. It was found that the best improvement in transmission is obtained when the steady magnetic field is normal to the interface and the oncoming plane wave is circularly polarized.