Laser production and heating of plasma for MHD application
Experiments have been made on the production and heating of plasmas by the absorption of laser radiation. These experiments were performed to ascertain the feasibility of using laser-produced or laser-heated plasmas as the input for a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generator. Such a system would have a broad application as a laser-to-electricity energy converter for space power transmission. Experiments with a 100-J-pulsed CO/sub 2/ laser were conducted to investigate the breakdown of argon gas by a high-intensity laser beam, the parameters (electron density and temperature) of the plasma produced, and the formation and propagation of laser-supported detonation (LSD) waves. Experiments were also carried out using a 1-J-pulsed CO/sub 2/ laser to heat the plasma produced in a shock tube. The shock-tube hydrogen plasma reached electron densities of approximately 10 to the 17th/cu cm and electron temperatures of approximately 1 eV. Absorption of the CO/sub 2/ laser beam by the plasma was measured, and up to approximately 100 percent absorption was observed. Measurements with a small MHD generator showed that the energy extraction efficiency could be very large with values up to 56 percent being measured.
- Research Organization:
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Hampton, VA (USA). Langley Research Center
- OSTI ID:
- 5353568
- Report Number(s):
- N-88-18443; NASA-TP-2798; L-16373; NAS-1.60:2798
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
LASER POWER TRANSMISSION
MHD GENERATORS
CARBON DIOXIDE LASERS
ELECTRIC GENERATORS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
PLASMA HEATING
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
DATA
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
GAS LASERS
HEATING
INFORMATION
LASERS
NUMERICAL DATA
PLASMA
POWER SUPPLIES
POWER TRANSMISSION
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
420300* - Engineering- Lasers- (-1989)