DTIC ADA195971: Unified Study of Plasma/Surface Interactions for Space Power and Propulsion.

📝 Description

High specific impulse, high specific power devices, such as magnetoplasmadynamic arcjets, laser or microwave propulsion channels, and MHD generators, involve the flow of modest temperature (0.5 - 5 eV) partially ionized gases at speeds of 5 - 20 km/sec. The interactions of such flows with solid surfaces containing, channeling or penetrating the flow provide a principal source of concern for the efficiency and lifetime of high specific power systems. The present report describes a basic research effort that examines the plasma/surface interaction experimentally in an arrangement providing diagnostic access usually unavailable in mission-oriented, device-development projects. (MJM)