Experimental Investigation of Laser-sustained Plasma in Supersonic Argon Flow

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3657048· OSTI ID:21612166

Sperber, David; Eckel, Hans-Albert ^[1]; Moessinger, Peter ^[2]; Fasoulas, Stefanos ^[3]

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1. DLR - German Aerospace Center, Institute of Technical Physics, Stuttgart (Germany)
2. University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Esslingen (Germany)
3. University of Stuttgart, Institute of Space Systems, Stuttgart (Germany)

Laser-induced energy deposition is widely discussed as a flow control technique in supersonic transportation. In case of thermal laser-plasma upstream of a blunt body, a substantial adaptation of shock wave geometry and magnitude of wave drag is predicted. Related to the research on laser supported detonation, the paper describes the implementation of laser-sustained plasma in a supersonic Argon jet. The stable plasma state is generated by the intersection of a Q-switched Nd:YAG-laser and a continuous wave CO{sub 2}-laser beams, for ignition and maintenance of the plasma respectively. A miniature supersonic Ludwieg tube test facility generates a supersonic jet at velocities of Mach 2.1. Modifications of the flow and plasma conditions are investigated and characterized by Schlieren flow visualisation, laser energy transmission and plasma radiation measurements. The results include the discussions of the flow field as well as the required laser and gas parameters.

• OSTI ID: 21612166
• 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: 10.1063/1.3657048; (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
ARGON
CARBON DIOXIDE LASERS
CONTROL
DETONATION WAVES
FLOW VISUALIZATION
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
MAINTENANCE
NEODYMIUM LASERS
PHOTON BEAMS
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
Q-SWITCHING
SUPERSONIC FLOW
TEST FACILITIES
BEAMS
ELEMENTS
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
GAS LASERS
GASES
LASERS
NONMETALS
PLASMA
RARE GASES
SHOCK WAVES
SOLID STATE LASERS