FDTD Solution of the Maxwell–Boltzmann System for Electromagnetic Wave Propagation in a Plasma

In this paper, a self-consistent model is developed of the propagation of an electromagnetic wave into a plasma region, based on the solution of the Maxwell-Boltzmann system of equations. The system is resolved using a finite-difference time-domain approach that gives as results the behavior of both the particle velocity distribution function and the electromagnetic fields. The method is applied to a simple situation in which a wave impinges on a plasma region, but can easily be extended to more complicated configurations.