Aerodynamic Effects in Weakly Ionized Gas: Phenomenology and Applications
- Department of Physics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia (United States)
Aerodynamic effects in ionized gases, often neglected phenomena, have been subject of a renewed interest in recent years. After a brief historical account, we discuss a selected number of effects and unresolved problems that appear to be relevant in both aeronautic and propulsion applications in subsonic, supersonic, and hypersonic flow. Interaction between acoustic shock waves and weakly ionized gas is manifested either as plasma-induced shock wave dispersion and acceleration or as shock-wave induced double electric layer in the plasma, followed by the localized increase of the average electron energy and density, as well as enhancement of optical emission. We describe the phenomenology of these effects and discuss several experiments that still do not have an adequate interpretation. Critical for application of aerodynamic effects is the energy deposition into the flow. We classify and discuss some proposed wall-free generation schemes with respect to the efficiency of energy deposition and overall generation of the aerodynamic body force.
- OSTI ID:
- 20898641
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 876, Issue 1; Conference: 23. summer school and international symposium on the physics of ionized gases, National Park Kopaonik (Serbia), 28 Aug - 1 Sep 2006; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2406036; (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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