Space Shuttle Plasma/Flowfield Interactions
Abstract
Plasma phenomena around large space structures operating in low earth orbit are examined. Our particular emphasis is on phenomena that may lead to enhanced plasmas as a result of gas injections. The ultimate goal is the design of a Shuttle-borne experiment to study plasma enhancement. One section provides a review of Langmuir probe theory with a re-analysis of some of the measurements performed on earlier Shuttle flights. The major portion of the report describes modeling the critical ionization velocity (CIV) phenomenon, which has been proposed as an important source of plasma enhancement when neutral molecules have a sufficiently large velocity relative to a magnetized plasma. We present an analysis of the linear dispersion theory for both cold plasmas and plasmas that have thermal energy. Results are presented from computer simulations using a particle-in cell-code to simulate the plasma effects that results when a beam of fast ions interacts with a background plasma. Most of these simulations include molecular physical effects such as charge exchange, elastic collisions, and excitation and ionization by fast electrons. An appendix gives the Phase 0/1 Accident Risk Assessment report for the experiment design. Keywords: Space shuttle; Ions; Electrons; Ionization mechanisms; Plasma simulation; Langmuir probe; Critical Ionization, Velocity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 11, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA209051
Entities
People
- Andrew T. Lintz
- Daniel E. Hastings
- David Resendes
- George E. Caledonia
- Guy Weyl
- James C. Person
Organizations
- Physical Sciences (United States)