Finite Volume Time Domain modelling of microwave breakdown and plasma formation in a metallic aperture

The modelling of plasma formation during microwave breakdown is a difficult task because of the strong non-linear coupling between Maxwellʼs equations and plasma equations, and of the large plasma density gradients that form during breakdown. An original Finite Volume Time Domain (FVTD) method has been developed to solve Maxwellʼs equations coupled with a simplified fluid plasma model and is described in this paper. This method is illustrated with the study of the shielding of a metallic aperture by the plasma generated by an incident high power electromagnetic wave. Typical results obtained with the FVTD method for this shielding problem are shown.