Investigation on the shockwave induced by surface arc plasma in quiescent air

The shockwave induced by surface direct-current （DC） arc discharge is investigated both experimentally and numer- ically. In the experiment, the shockwave generated by rapid gas heating is clearly observed from Schlieren images. The peak velocity of the shockwave is measured to be over 410 m/s; during its upright movement, it gradually falls to about 340 m/s; no remarkable difference is seen after changing the discharge voltage and the pulse frequency. In the modeling of the arc plasma, the arc domain is not simulated as a boundary condition with fixed temperature or pressure, but a source term with a time-varying input power density, which could better reflect the influence of the heating process. It is found that with a reference power density of 2.8× 1012 W/m2, the calculated peak velocity is higher than the measured one, but they quickly （in 30 Its） become agreed with each other. The peak velocity also rises while increasing the power density, the maximum velocity acquired in the simulation is over 468 m/s, which is expected to be effective for high speed flow control.     

Wind tunnel experiments on flow separation control of an Unmanned Air Vehicle by nanosecond discharge plasma aerodynamic actuation

Plasma flow control(PFC) is a new kind of active flow control technology, which can improve the aerodynamic performances of aircrafts remarkably. The flow separation control of an unmanned air vehicle(UAV) by nanosecond discharge plasma aerodynamic actuation(NDPAA) is investigated experimentally in this paper. Experimental results show that the applied voltages for both the nanosecond discharge and the millisecond discharge are nearly the same, but the current for nanosecond discharge(30 A) is much bigger than that for millisecond discharge(0.1 A). The flow field induced by the NDPAA is similar to a shock wave upward, and has a maximal velocity of less than 0.5 m/s. Fast heating effect for nanosecond discharge induces shock waves in the quiescent air. The lasting time of the shock waves is about 80 μs and its spread velocity is nearly 380 m/s. By using the NDPAA, the flow separation on the suction side of the UAV can be totally suppressed and the critical stall angle of attack increases from 20° to 27° with a maximal lift coefficient increment of 11.24%. The flow separation can be suppressed when the discharge voltage is larger than the threshold value, and the optimum operation frequency for the NDPAA is the one which makes the Strouhal number equal one. The NDPAA is more effective than the millisecond discharge plasma aerodynamic actuation(MDPAA) in boundary layer flow control. The main mechanism for nanosecond discharge is shock effect. Shock effect is more effective in flow control than momentum effect in high speed flow control.     

Aspects of the upstream region in a plasma jet with dielectric barrier discharge configurations

A plasma column with a length of about 65 cm is generated in the upstream region of a plasma jet using dielectric barrier discharge configurations. The effects of experimental parameters such as the amplitude of the applied voltage and the driving frequency are investigated in aspects of the plasma column by the optical method. Results show that both the plasma length and the propagating velocity, as well as the discharge current, increase with the increase in the applied voltage or its frequency. The discharge mechanism is analysed qualitatively based on streamer theory, where photo-ionization is important. Furthermore, optical emission spectroscopy is used to investigate the electric field intensity of the upstream region.     

Aspects of the dielectric upstream region barrier discharge in a plasma jet with configurations

A plasma column with a length of about 65 cm is generated in the upstream region of a plasma jet using dielectric barrier discharge configurations. The effects of experimental parameters such as the amplitude of the applied voltage and the driving frequency are investigated in aspects of the plasma column by the optical method. Results show that both the plasma length and the propagating velocity, as well as the discharge current, increase with the increase in the applied voltage or its frequency. The discharge mechanism is analysed qualitatively based on streamer theory, where photo-ionization is important. Furthermore, optical emission spectroscopy is used to investigate the electric field intensity of the upstream region.     

Investigation of impurity transport using supersonic molecular beam injected neon in HL-2A ECRH plasma

In this paper, we describe the behavior of impurity transport in the HL-2A electron cyclotron resonance heating （ECRH） L-mode plasma. The neon as a trace impurity is injected by the supersonic molecular beam injection （SMBI） technique, which is used for the first time to study the impurity transport in HL-2A. The progression of neon ions is monitored by the soft X-ray camera and bolometer arrays with good temporal and spatial resolutions. The convection and diffusion process of the neon ions are investigated with the one-dimensional impurity transport code STRAHL. The results show that the diffusion coefficient D of neon ions is a factor of four larger than the neoclassical value in the central region. The value of D is larger in the outer region of the plasma （ρ 〉 0.6） than in the central region of the plasma （ρ 〈 0.6）. The convective velocity directs inwards with a value of ～-1.0 m/s in the Ohmic discharge, but it reverses to direct outwards with a value of ～ 8.0 m/s in the outer region of the plasma when ECRH is applied. The result indicates that the impurity transport is strongly enhanced with ECRH.     

Simulation of radio-frequency atmospheric pressure glow discharge in γ mode

The existence of two diffe1：ent discharge modes has been verified in an rf （radio-frequency） atmospheric pressure glow discharge （APGD） by Shi [J. Appl. Phys. 97, 023306 （2005）]. In the first mode, referred to as a mode, the discharge current density is relatively low and the bulk plasma electrons acquire the energy due to the sheath expansion. In the second mode, termed γ mode, the discharge current density is relatively high, the secondary electrons emitted by cathodc under ion bombardment in the cathode sheath region play an important role in sustaining the discharge. In this paper, a one-dimensional self-consistent fluid model for rf APGDs is used to simulate the discharge mechanisms in the mode in helium discharge between two parallel metallic planar electrodes. The results show that as the applied voltage increases, the discharge current becomes greater and the plasma density correspondingly increases, consequentially the discharge transits from the a mode into the γ mode. The high collisionality of the APGD plasma results in significant drop of discharge potential across the sheath region, and the electron Joule heating and the electron collisional energy loss reach their maxima in the region. The validity of the simulation is checked with the available experimental and numerical data.     

Influence of a centered dielectric tube on inductively coupled plasma source: Chamber structures and plasma characteristics

A high-density RF ion source is an essential part of a neutral beam injector. In this study, the authors attempt to retrofit an original regular RF ion source reactor by inserting a thin dielectric tube through the symmetric axis of the discharge chamber. With the aid of this inner tube, the reactor is capable of generating a radial magnetic field instead of the original transverse magnetic field, which solves the E × B drift problem in the current RF ion source structure. To study the disturbance of the dielectric tube, a fluid model is introduced to study the plasma parameters with or without the internal dielectric tube, based on the inductively coupled plasma(ICP) reactor. The simulation results show that while introducing the internal dielectric tube into the ICP reactor, both the plasma density and plasma potential have minor influence during the discharge process, and there is good uniformity at the extraction region. The influence of the control parameters reveals that the plasma densities at the extraction region decrease first and subsequently slow down while enhancing the diffusion region.     

A uniformly valid series solution to the unsteady stagnation-point flow towards an impulsively stretching surface

The paper studies the problem of the unsteady two-dimensional stagnation-point flow of an incompressible viscous fluid over a flat deformable sheet. The flow is started impulsively from rest and the sheet is suddenly stretched in its own plane with a velocity proportional to the distance from the stagnation point. An analytical series solution is obtained by means of the homotopy analysis method (HAM). Also, the homotopy-Pade′ technique is employed. An explicit formula for the local friction coefficient is provided. The present formula, different from the perturbation solution, is accurate and uniformly valid for all dimensionless time in the whole spatial region and for all possible values of physical parameter λ, defined as the ratio of the potential flow velocity to the sheet sudden stretching velocity. Numerical tests are done to verify the present formula for its validity and accuracy.     

Non-Uniform Axial Electric Field in Argon Glow Discharge Plasma

The non-uniform argon dc glow discharge plasma system has been constructed in a very special design to investigate the effects of variable tube radius on plasma parameters. By using isolated computer controlled three couples of a double probe （TCDP） system, the electron temperature, electron density, the reduced electric field, and electron drift velocity are measured at low and intermediate pressures. It is shown that the electron temperature and reduced electric field （density） decreases （increases） as the radius decreases, at low discharge current and pressures. For large radius regions, at high discharge currents and pressures, the behaviour of the plasma parameters of specially reduced electric field change similarly to those in a uniform discharge system.     

Effect of far-field flow on a columnar crystal in the convective undercooled melt

The growth behavior of a columnar crystal in the convective undercooled melt affected by the far-field uniform flow is studied and the asymptotic solution for the interface evolution of the columnar crystal is derived by means of the asymptotic expansion method.The results obtained reveal that the far-field flow induces a significant change of the temperature around the columnar crystal and the convective flow caused by the far-field flow accelerates the growth velocity of the interface of the growing columnar crystal in the upstream direction and inhibits its growth velocity in the downstream direction.Our results are similar to the experimental data and numerical simulations.     

Role of Advance Refuelling and Heating on Edge Reynolds Stress—Induces Poloidal Flow in HL—1M

The radial profile of electrostatic Reynolds stress,plasma poloidal rotations,radial and poloidsal electric fields have been measured in the plasma boundary region of the HL-1M tokamak using a multiarray of Mach/Langmuir probes.In the experiments of ohmic discharge,lower hybrid current drive,supersoniuc molecular beam injection (SMBI)and multi-shot pellet injection,the correlation between the Reynolds stress and poloidal flow in the edge plasma is presented.The adial profile changes of the Reynolds stress and poloidal flow velocity Vpol with lower hybrid wave injection power and SMBI injection are obtained.The results indicate that the sheared poloidal flow can be generated in tokamak plasma due to the radially varying Reynolds stress.     

Particle simulation on electron acceleration process by the laser ponderomotive force in inhomogeneous underdense plasma layers

The mechanism of electron ponderomotive acceleration due to increasing group velocity of laser pulse in inhomogeneous underdense plasma layers is studied by two-dimensional relativistic parallel particle-in-cell code. The electrons within the laser pulse move with it and can be strongly accelerated ponderomotively when the duration of laser pulse is much shorter than the duration of optimum condition for acceleration in the wake. The extra energy gain can be attributed to the change of laser group velocity. More high energy electrons are generated in the plasma layer with descending density profile than that with ascending density profile. The process and character of electron acceleration in three kinds of underdense plasma layers are presented and compared.     

Sheet Plasma Produced by Hollow Cathode Discharge

A sheet plasma is produced by a hollow cathode discharge under an axial magnetic field. The plasma is about40cm in length, 4cm in width and 1 cm in thickness. The electron density is about 10^8cm^-3. The hollow cathodeis made to be shallow with a large opening, which is different from the ordinary deep hollow cathode. A Langmuirprobe is used to detect the plasma. The electron density and the spatial distribution of the plasma change whenvoltage, pressure and the magnetic field vary. A peak and a data fluctuation at about 200 G-300 G are observedin the variation of electron density (or thickness of the sheet plasma) with the magnetic field. Our work will behelpful in characterizing the sheet plasma and will make the production of dense sheet plasma more controllable.     

Kinetic modeling of a high power fast-axial-flow CO_2 laser with computational fluid dynamics method

A new computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method for the simulation of fast-axial-flow CO_2 laser is developed.The model which is solved by CFD software uses a set of dynamic differential equations to describe the dynamic process in one discharge tube.The velocity,temperature,pressure and turbulence energy distributions in discharge passage are presented.There is a good agreement between the theoret- ical prediction and the experimental results.This result indicates that the parameters of the laser have significant effect on the flow distribution in the discharge passage.It is helpful to optimize the output of high power CO_2 laser by mastering its kinetic characteristics.     

Effects of discharge current and voltage on the high density of metastable helium atoms

Both hollow-cathode and Penning-type discharges were adopted to excite helium atoms to a metastable state. Experimental data indicate that Penning discharge is more suitable for generating high fractions of metastables in a low-density helium beam for laser-induced fluorescence technique in measuring electric fields at the edge of a plasma. The metastable density increases with increasing helium gas pressure in the range of 1.33×10^{-2}－66.7Pa. The highest metastable density of 3.8×10^{16}m^{-3} is observed at a static gas pressure of 66.7Pa. An approximately linear relationship between the density of metastable helium atoms and the plasma discharge current is observed. Magnetic field plays a very important role in producing a high density of metastable atoms in Penning discharge.     

Analyses of edge plasma characteristics in HL-2A

The edge plasma characteristics are studied by both a movable array of Mach/Reynolds stress/Langmuir 10-probes in the boundary region and the fixed flush probe arrays on the 4 divertor neutralization plates at the same toroidal cross-section in the HL-2A tokamak. The dependence of the Reynolds stress on poloidal flow in the edge plasma is analysed. The result indicates that the sheared poloidal flow in tokamak plasma can be induced by the radial gradient of Reynolds stress. In the divertor experiments of HL-2A, the profiles of the electron temperature, density and floating potential on divertor plates are measured by the flush probe arrays. The edge electron temperature in divertor configuration is higher than that in limiter configuration. The temperature asymmetry between outer and inner target plates is observed. The result of magnetic surface reconstructed from 18 Mirnov coils signals is presented. Both the particle recycling and the impurity flux in the bulk plasma during divertor discharges are discussed. Neutral gas pressure in divertor chamber, measured by fast ionization gauge during divertor discharge, is given.     

Simulations of the effects of density and temperature profile on SMBI penetration depth based on the HL-2A tokamak configuration

Using the trans-neut module of the BOUT++ code, we study how the fueling penetration depth of supersonic molecular beam injection(SMBI) is affected by plasma density and temperature profiles. The plasma densities and temperatures in L-mode are initialized to be a set of linear profiles with different core plasma densities and temperatures. The plasma profiles are relaxed to a set of steady states with different core plasma densities or temperatures. For a fixed gradient, the steady profiles are characterized by the core plasma density and temperature. The SMBI is investigated based on the final steady profiles with different core plasma densities or temperatures. The simulated results suggest that the SMB injection will be blocked by dense core plasma and high-temperature plasma. Once the core plasma density is set to be N_(i0)= 1.4N_0(N_0= 1 × 10~(19)m~(-3)) it produces a deeper penetration depth. When N_(i0) is increased from 1.4N_0 to 3.9N_0 at intervals of 0.8N_0, keeping a constant core temperature of T_(e0)= 725 eV at the radial position of ψ = 0.65, the penetration depth gradually decreases. Meanwhile, when the density is fixed at N_(i0)= 1.4N_0 and the core plasma temperature T_(e0) is set to 365 eV,the penetration depth increases. The penetration depth decreases as T_(e0) is increased from 365 eV to 2759 eV. Sufficiently large N_(i0) or T_(e0) causes most of the injected molecules to stay in the scrape-off-layer(SOL) region, lowering the fueling efficiency.     

Dynamic Characteristics of a Microhollow Cathode Sustained Discharge with Split Third Electrodes for Potential Flow Application to Flow Velocimetry

The dynamic behavior of a microhollow cathode sustained discharge with split third electrodes is experimentally investigated. The sustained discharge swells isotropically in the presence of a small amount of argon gas flow that is not clearly detectable with a conventional single third electrode. At high flow rates, the sustained discharge transitions to a fast-moving constricted discharge with an are shape. The modified discharge structure causes a shift in current distribution over the third electrodes, and the current peak location varies linearly with the flow rate over a certain flow range. Such linear behavior may be applied to in situ flow velocity measurement.     

Characteristics of a large gap uniform discharge excited by DC voltage at atmospheric pressure

A large-gap uniform discharge is ignited by a coaxial dielectric barrier discharge and burns between a needle anode and a plate cathode under a low sustaining voltage by feeding with flowing argon. The basic aspects of the large-gap uniform discharge are investigated by optical and spectroscopic methods. From the discharge images, it can be found that this discharge has similar regions with glow discharge at low pressure except a plasma plume region. Light emission signals from the discharge indicate that the plasma column is invariant with time, while there are some stochastic pulses in the plasma plume region. The optical emission spectra scanning from 300 nm to 800 nm are used to calculate the excited electron temperature and vibrational temperature of the large-gap uniform discharge. It has been found that the excited electron temperature almost keeps constant and the vibrational temperature increases with increasing discharge current.Both of them decreases with increasing gas flow rate.     

Self-consistent three-dimensional modeling and simulation of large-scale rectangular surface-wave plasma source

A self-consistent and three-dimensional (3D) model of argon discharge in a large-scale rectangular surface-wave plasma (SWP) source is presented in this paper, which is based on the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) approximation to Maxwell's equations self-consistently coupled with a fluid model for plasma evolution. The discharge characteristics at an input microwave power of 1200~W and a filling gas pressure of 50~Pa in the SWP source are analyzed. The simulation shows the time evolution of deposited power density at different stages, and the 3D distributions of electron density and temperature in the chamber at steady state. In addition, the results show that there is a peak of plasma density approximately at a vertical distance of 3~cm from the quartz window.