Characterizing Electromagnetic Pulses from Hypervelocity Impact Plasmas
Abstract
Projectiles that strike targets with enormous speeds will vaporize and ionize the material, producing a rapidly expanding plasma. Experiments measure electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) from sufficiently fast impacts, and the responsible physical mechanism is still not understood. We suspect that EMPs associated with meteoroid impacts are responsible for some spacecraft anomalies and failures. This project develops simulations of the production and expansion of impact plasmas. The simulations quantify the total charge generated by impacts, the plasma temperature, and plasma expansion velocity. All of these quantities agree well with ground-based experiments. We also present an outline of a planned in situ experiment which will fly either on a CubeSat or the International Space Station and will demonstrate EMPs originating from hypervelocity impacts in the theater of operation. The work detailed here is a step towards both understanding the dynamics of impact-produced plasmas as well as quantifying the threat posed to spacecraft.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 19, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1123389
Entities
People
- Alex C. Fletcher
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory