Fundamental Mechanisms of Nonequilibrium MHD Lasing Phenomena.
Abstract
A feasibility study of MHD lasers has been carried out, consisting of a comprehensive numerical modeling and an experimental study of the gain of MHD generator behavior with a three-level model for the CO2 module which recognizes the lower level energy transfer by co2 - CO2 collisions as the major limiting process. It predicts specific powers as high as 60 ki/kg at efficiencies near 3%. The experimental study has identified He + 0.014 CO2 + .00001 Cs as the optimum plasma mixture, and verified that 0.3%/cm gain can be attained at a current density of 0.3 amp/sq.cm. and electric field of 20V/cm. It has yielded a rate of (3.3 + or - 0.03) x 10 to the 7th power for the lower level deactivation. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1978
- Accession Number
- ADA068190
Entities
People
- Jack L. Kerrebrock
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology