Formulation of the Analysis for Nonlinear Aerosol Thermal Blooming
Abstract
In this paper we present a theoretical analysis for the interaction of a high energy laser beam with a hygroscopic aerosol. Droplet absorption simultaneously heats the atmosphere and vaporizes the droplet. When a droplet is vaporized a thin, non-equilibrium region exists at the droplet surface. This interfacial discontinuity determines the amount of droplet superheat as a function of the rate of vaporization. For submicron droplets the degree of superheat achieved is small because heat conduction to the atmosphere keeps the droplets cool. Less than ten percent of the absorbed energy is available for vaporization. Droplets larger than 1um are heated to higher temperatures with as much as ninety percent of the absorbed energy available for vaporization.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA241324
Entities
People
- James Wallace