Dynamics of the Plasma Bunch at the Initial and Following Stages of Motion in a Rarefied Gas

Abstract

Physical and comprehensive numerical studies of the generation of plasma bunches with a high specific energy have been carried out with the use of a plasma gun. The parameters of the plasma bunch upon exit from the plasma accelerator and during propagation in the ionosphere (h > 200 km) to considerable distances (≈100 km) have been calculated. A special numerical algorithm is presented to determine the results of the impact of a rarefied high-velocity gas flow ( $${v}$$ ∼ 5 × 107 cm/s) on the surface of crystalline and amorphous solid bodies.