# Perturbing microwave beams by plasma density fluctuations

## TL;DR

This paper investigates how plasma density fluctuations in turbulent edge-plasmas affect microwave beam propagation, using full-wave simulations based on the Hasegawa-Wakatani model to identify conditions that cause significant beam deterioration.

## Contribution

It introduces a detailed simulation study of microwave scattering in turbulent plasma, highlighting the impact of drift-wave turbulence on beam quality.

## Key findings

- Parameters causing maximum beam deterioration identified
- Scattering and broadening depend on turbulence properties
- Implications for fusion plasma experiments discussed

## Abstract

The propagation of microwaves across a turbulent plasma density layer is investigated with full-wave simulations. To properly represent a fusion edge-plasma, drift-wave turbulence is considered based on the Hasegawa-Wakatani model. Scattering and broadening of a microwave beam whose amplitude distribution is of Gaussian shape is studied in detail as a function of certain turbulence properties. Parameters leading to the strongest deterioration of the microwave beam are identified and implications for existing experiments are given.