Abstract
Electromagnetic wave propagation in a nonuniform, collisional, magnetized plasma slab is investigated within magnetoionic theory. We allow for the presence of an ideal conductor at a distance d from the right transmissive plasma boundary, and derive the reflection, absorption, and transmission coefficients analytically for an arbitrary inhomogeneous plasma density profile. Dividing the inhomogeneous plasma slab into n thin layers allows for treating each layer as a homogeneous plasma and, therefore, the complex index of refraction of the magnetoionic theory is used to express the complex propagation vector of the waves in each layer. Upon matching the fields at all interfaces, a global matrix is formed that allows for the determination of the reflection, absorption, and transmission coefficients analytically. Results show that in the absence of the metallic wall, the reflected signal is a weak peak near omega(ce), while in the presence of the metallic wall this weak signal is overwhelmed by a strong transmitted peak from right to left after it has been reflected by the perfectly conducting metallic wall. Also, formation of a wider stealth band as the plasma density increases is observed.