Efficiency at which the kinetic energy of a hypersonic dense plasma flow is converted into light

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Sov. J. Plasma Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States)

OSTI ID:5389050

Kamrukov, A S; Kozlov, N P; Myshelov, E P; Protasov, Y S

This paper reports a study of the physics of light sources in which a plasma is heated through the randomization of the directed kinetic energy of a dense plasma stream which is accelerated electrodynamically to a hypersonic velocity and then suddenly stopped at an obstacle. This heating method is shown to have several fundamental advantages over the most common methods (ohmic heating and explosions) for producing dense, intensely emitting plasmas. It presents some new opportunities for developing bright sources of radiation in the ultraviolet and far vacuum ultraviolet parts of the spectrum with adjustable spectra. The emission mechanisms and the gas dynamics of the stopping of hypersonic plasma streams have been studied experimentally. The streams were produced by magnetoplasma compressors and stopped in an interaction with condensed matter in vacuum. The basic thermodynamic properties of the shock-compressed plasma were determined. The conversion of the kinetic energy of the high-velocity plasma streams into electromagnetic radiation occurs very efficiently. The energy emitted by a shock-compressed plasma, integrated over the spectrum, can reach approx.90% of the initial kinetic energy of the stream.

• Research Organization: N. E. Bauman Engineering College, Moscow
• OSTI ID: 5389050
• Journal Information: Sov. J. Plasma Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Journal Name: Sov. J. Plasma Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States) Vol. 7:6; ISSN SJPPD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700100* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research
ADIABATIC COMPRESSION HEATING
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRIC HEATING
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EMISSION
FLUID FLOW
HEATING
HYPERSONIC FLOW
IONIZATION
JOULE HEATING
PLASMA GUNS
PLASMA HEATING
PLASMA JETS
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIATIONS
RESISTANCE HEATING
SHOCK WAVES
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION