Effect of high power microwave injection on ozone balance

Abstract

High power microwave (HPM) injection into the troposphere to block the chain of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) or injection into the stratosphere to promote ozone generation are two feasible methods to artificially affect the ozone number concentration. Based on Maxwell’s equations and current density control equations, this study adopts the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method to quantitatively analyze the process of HPM injection into different heights of atmosphere. By taking consideration of the main atmospheric components and the major chemical reactions in the atmospheric, the decomposition of CFCs and the change of the ozone number density is also quantitatively simulated in response to the injection of single pulse microwaves. The numerical simulation results show that under the injection of high power microwaves, the number density of electrons increased exponentially with time, reaching a maximum value of 1017cm-3, and it increased considerably with the pulse time of injected high power microwaves and finally saturates when the state of atmospheric breakdown occurs. The decomposition of CFCs mainly occurs in the electron relaxation process, and the decomposition rate can reach 6% according to the simulation result. Before the atmosphere breaks down occurs, increase of microwave intensity or pulse width facilitates the production of more free electrons, which can consequently lead to a considerable increase in the ozone number density in ozone layer for a prolonged period.