Solar Plasma Physics.
Abstract
This final report provides a historical perspective and a summary of the productivity of this project. Twenty-one publications were produced during the 10-year period 1986 to 1996 as conference proceedings, technical reports, Ph.D dissertations and referred papers. The objective of the project was to measure the optical absorptivities in the visible region of the spectrum of alkali metal vapors in hydrogen gas to support the design of a solar powered rocket engine that used the volumetric absorber concept. A high-temperature furnace (2100 K) was fabricated and operated to simulate the absorption zone of the solar powered rocket. Mixtures of alkali metal vapors (lithium and sodium) were introduced into the hot zone as a jet in which the condition of local chemical equilibrium was established. Jet absorptivities were measured as a function of temperature. At temperatures above approximately 2100 K, overall absorption decreased substantially because of dissociation of the dimer molecules, dilithium, disodium and sodium lithium to atoms. At partial pressures of around 0.1 atm, the alkali metal vapors absorbed virtually all the visible incicident light over a 0.3 cm path length.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA324329
Entities
People
- C. W. L:arson