Approach to S-band Antenna Pattern Distortion generated by Spacecraft Plasma Plume

Abstract

When an antenna is accomodated on a metallic structure (e.g. satellite structure) its radiation gain pattern may be degraded by non-negligible contributions scattered by the structure itself. The prediction of the pattern distortion is a task usually approached by a combination of one or more numerical methods since the problem cannot be generally expressed in a simple and/or closed analytical form. The complexity of the solution depends on the electromagnetic environment and the complexity increases when a dispersive and spatially varying material like the plasma plume is taken into account. In this paper a system level method to evaluate the interference of the plasma plume on antennas gain pattern in S-band is proposed.