Scattering of microwaves by a plasma column at atmospheric pressure

Summary form only given, as follows. In this paper, the scattering properties of a cylindrical column of unmagnetized plasma, generated at atmospheric pressure, are investigated analytically and computationally. Particularly, the back-scattering cross-section is calculated as function of the plasma parameters. Knowledge of the back-scattering cross-section is very important in monostatic radar applications where the signal reflected back in the direction of incidence is of interest. The angular distribution of the reflected microwave power is also investigated as a function of various plasma parameters.