Finite-difference time-domain model of plasma

Plasma measurements in the ionosphere have been used for over three decades to support upper atmospheric research at the Space Dynamics Laboratory and Utah State University. These probes have been used to deduce electron density in the upper atmosphere. This thesis seeks to extend the data analysis by providing full-wave simulations of collisional. This would enable calibration of the probe to more accurately measure electron density and measurement of magnetic field strength and electron neutral collision frequency. This is accomplished by developing a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) model of the plasma equations. Simulations were run for a plasma frequency of 8 mHz and 0.8 mHz and collision frequencies of 100 kHz, 200 kHz, 300 kHz and 500 kHz. Simulations were also run for cold collisional magnetized plasma with the cyclotron frequency varied from 0.1 mHz to 1.6 mHz. Results from these simulations were compared against the values obtained from analytical theory.