Simulation of Forced Korteweg De Vries Equation as Applied to Small Orbital Debris

Abstract

Sub-centimeter orbital debris is currently undetectable using ground-based radar and optical methods. However, pits in Space Shuttle windows produced by paint chips demonstrate that small debris can cause serious damage to spacecraft. Recent analytical, computational and experimental work has shown that charged objects moving quickly through a plasma will cause the formation of plasma density solitary waves, or solitons. Due to their exposure to the solar wind plasma environment, even the smallest space debris will be charged. Depending on the debris size, charge and velocity, debris may produce plasma solitons that propagate along the debris velocity vector and could be detected with existing sensor technology.