Validation of the geometric optics approximation for microwave antenna analysis with an inhomogenous plasma plume

Summary form only given. The Hall thruster is the most appropriate candidate to replace chemical propulsion systems on geosynchronous communications satellites. This thruster expels an inhomogenous plasma plume for long periods of time, which can cross the line of sight of an antenna to its ground station. A code called Beam Server has been developed, which traces rays from an antenna feed to a reflector and out to an exit plane. The rays may pass through the plasma plume and be refracted before hitting the exit plane. At the exit plane, the rays´ contributions to the surface currents are integrated to give the farfield radiation pattern. The farfield radiation pattern has several important features that are validated such as directivity and crosspolarization. A comparison between Beam Server and analytic calculations of these features is presented.