The interaction of laser radiation with gases and plasma is considered theoretically and experimentally as one of the main processes defining production of efficient laser propulsion in the air-breathing and rocket regimes. Laser breakdown of gases is examined as a phenomenon initiating laser power input into plasma ignition. To determine such characteristics of multi-ionized plasma as degree of ionization and its thermodynamic functions as a dependence on the initial density of gas and its temperature, semi-empirical model of the plasma is applied. The model allows specifying the thermodynamic functions of the plasma and estimating efficiency of the thrust production under the high-peak power of laser pulses.
The experimental data on laser-induced plasma are examined to determine efficiency of laser power input into the plasma on basis of the local explosion theory. At that, shock waves propagating out of the plasma region are assumed to possess the information on specific energy that was released in the breakdown region.
Basic Gas-Dynamic Theories of the Laser Air-Breathing and Rocket Propulsion
SS Atomic, Opt., Plasma Phys.
2021-08-26
49 pages
Article/Chapter (Book)
Electronic Resource
English
Air-breathing propulsion , Rocket propulsion , “Explosive” mechanism of plasma ignition , Laser breakdown of gaseous propellants , “Pulsejet” mode of thrust production , Local explosion theory , Laser mover , Beam array concentrator , Bell type vehicle , Gas-dynamics of laser propulsion , Multi-ionized plasma , Equilibrium plasma , Degree of plasma ionization , Raizer’s theory , Boltzmann distribution function , Non-equilibrium plasma , Saha’s equations , Inverse Bremsstrahlung effect , Non-isentropic gas flow , Parabolic nozzle , Thrust impulse Physics , Optics, Lasers, Photonics, Optical Devices , Aerospace Technology and Astronautics , Plasma Physics , Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology , Engineering Fluid Dynamics , Physics and Astronomy