Computations of the Power to Sustain Plasma in Air with Relevance to Aerospace Technology
Abstract
Research on the air chemistry for plasma produced by an electron beam and sustained with an electric field quantified the power to generate plasma with a density of 1E10 /cu cm to 1E13 /cu cm from sea level to 300,000 ft. An air chemistry code was upgraded and optimized for air-plasma research with key reactions that are functions of the reduced electric field, E/N, with a maximum value of 2E-15 V-sq cm. A tabulation of all the reactions used and their reaction rates or graphical references document the air-code chemistry. The air code computes the concentration of electrons, all air species including water vapor and many byproducts such as O, many negative and positive ion species, oxygen singlet delta, oxygen vibrational states, energy deposited in the plasma, thermal expansion, the bulk gas temperature, and total power. Simulations suggest that a global minimum in power occurs as a function of E/N and roughly corresponds to a minimum in electron attachment to oxygen. Power reduction depends on the electron concentration, altitude, and duration of electron bombardment. Results suggest conditions where electron-beam bombardment converts air plasma into one where the excited-state concentrations are significant and influence the overall gas kinetics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 19, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA420475
Entities
People
- Kenneth R. Stalder
- Robert J. Vidmar
Organizations
- University of Nevada, Reno