Polarization Scattering Characteristic of Plasma-Sheath-Covered Hypersonic Vehicle

The plasma sheath covering the vehicle’s surface will be generated during the reentry of the hypersonic vehicle, which has a complex modulation effect on the electromagnetic (EM) wave and significantly affects the scattering characteristics of the hypersonic vehicle. This article analyzes the backward polarization scattering characteristics of a plasma-sheath-covered hypersonic vehicle. Based on the plasma sheath parameters at typical heights and velocities solved by numerical simulation, the current density convolution method was used to simulate the interaction between the linearly polarized plane EM wave and the hypersonic vehicle. Two backward far-field scattered components (co- and cross-polarization) are obtained using transient field extrapolation. Through studying the cross_polarization isolation (XPI) of scattering EM waves, this article analyzes the influences of flight status, EM waves’ incident angles, polarization modes (vertical and horizon), and frequency range on the backward radar cross Section (RCS) of hypersonic vehicles.