Photoionization in the Precursor of Laser Supported Detonation by Ultraviolet Radiation

Journal Article · Thu Nov 10 00:00:00 EST 2011 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3657039· OSTI ID:21612162

Shimamura, Kohei; Michigami, Keisuke; Wang, Bin; Komurasaki, Kimiya ^[1]; Arakawa, Yoshihiro ^[2]

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1. Department of Advanced Energy, University of Tokyo 5-1-5 Kashiwa-no-ha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8561 (Japan)
2. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, University of Tokyo 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656 (Japan)

The propagation mechanism of laser-supported detonation (LSD) is important for designing laser propulsion for a detonation type thruster. The purpose of this work to was to confirm that photo-ionization in precursor is the predominant LSD sustainment mechanism. First of all, we tried to investigate the dependency of LSD duration on ambient gas species, air and argon. We took a series of high-speed images using the laser shadow-graphy. Besides, to estimate the UV photons emitted from the plasma, we used plasma emission spectroscopy and determined the electron temperature and density. As a result, the LSD duration of argon plasma and air plasma are 0.7 {mu}s and 0.3 {mu}s, resp. Besides, argon plasma emitted 10{sup 10} to 10{sup 14} photons/seconds, which was higher than air plasma. These results reveal that LSD propagation depends on the photon-contributing photoionization. The threshold photon-emission rate of LSD termination gives the elucidation of the LSD termination condition.

• OSTI ID: 21612162
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1402, Issue 1; Conference: 7. international symposium on beamed energy propulsion, Ludwigsburg (Germany), 10-14 Apr 2011; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3657039; (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
AIR
ARGON
DETONATION WAVES
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY
IMAGES
LASER RADIATION
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
PHOTOIONIZATION
PHOTON COLLISIONS
PHOTON EMISSION
PHOTONS
PRECURSOR
PROPULSION
SEMICONDUCTOR LASERS
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
VELOCITY
WAVE PROPAGATION
BOSONS
COLLISIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
EMISSION
FLUIDS
GASES
IONIZATION
LASERS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
NONMETALS
PLASMA
RADIATIONS
RARE GASES
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SHOCK WAVES
SOLID STATE LASERS
SPECTROSCOPY