Plasma particle simulations on electric antenna and spacecraft environment

Recent expansion and sophistication of electric antenna applications in space missions increase the demand for better understanding of plasma and electromagnetic environment around the electric antenna and spacecraft. Because of strong plasma inhomogeneity emerging around the antenna and spacecraft, antenna behavior is difficult to resolve analytically and thus should be analyzed by means of some numerical approaches such as a plasma simulation. Actually, a practical merit of the plasma simulation has been demonstrated through its application to an analysis of antenna impedance in plasma [1]. Also, such a numerical approach has further advantages for an analysis of modern electric antennas equipped with distinctive devices: e.g., a photoelectron guard electrode, which greatly complicates the antenna-plasma interactions. In the present study, we apply the particle-in-cell simulations to the studies of the antenna and spacecraft environment. We particularly focus on electric properties of modern electric antennas used for static electric field measurements and plasma wave observations.