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Two-temperature modeling of laser sustained hydrogen plasmas

Journal Article · · Journal of Thermophysics and Heat Transfer
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2514/3.612· OSTI ID:53381
;  [1]
  1. Univ of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States)
A kinetic nonequilibrium model of laser sustained hydrogen plasmas has been formulated and solved for the prediction of steady-state energy transport processes. This model is the first of its kind and includes a discretized beam ray-trace with a variable index of refraction based upon plasma electron number density for a 10.6-micron CO2 laser input. Model results for fraction of incident laser power absorbed, and fraction of incident laser power retained by the hydrogen gas have compared favorably with experimental results. The model has been used to provide predictions of laser sustained plasma (LSP) performance well outside the realm of experiments to incident powers as high as 700 kW. At the gas pressures studied, minimal kinetic nonequilibrium was observed in LSP core regions, even for 700-kW laser power. 38 refs.
OSTI ID:
53381
Journal Information:
Journal of Thermophysics and Heat Transfer, Journal Name: Journal of Thermophysics and Heat Transfer Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 8; ISSN 0887-8722; ISSN JTHTEO
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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