THE REFLECTION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC-WAVES BY A CONDUCTING SURFACE SHIELDED WITH A PLASMA-LAYER

The reflection coefficient is calculated for electromagnetic waves inc ident normally on a flat perfect conductor shielded with a plasma, The profile of the plasma layer is determined by recombination, Two model s of plasma decay are studied: an exponential profile corresponding to the first-order recombination (proportional to the plasma density), a nd an incorporation of the recombination process which is proportional to the density squared, Though the generation of a plasma with a high electric conductivity looks quite possible, the character of plasma d ecay in the second (more realistic) model is such that a plasma layer in the troposphere would not provide a strong damping of reflected ele ctromagnetic waves.