Feasibility study of MHD control of cold supersonic plasma flows

Abstract

The paper presents preliminary results of an experimental study of MHD effects in lowtemperature ionized supersonic flows. The main objective was to determine whether the Lorentz force produced in nonequilibrium plasmas can affect the supersonic flow separation and the intensity of turbulent fluctuations in the supersonic boundary layer. The results show that a combination of the transverse RF and transverse non-self-sustained DC discharges can be used for generation of stable ionization in supersonic flows and for sustaining transverse current to produce Lorentz force in the presence of the magnetic field. The results also show that plasma flow visualization can be used for straightforward diagnostics of separation of low-temperature supersonic MHD flows. Finally, the results show applicability of the use of miniature microphones for measurements of pressure fluctuations spectra in low-temperature supersonic plasma flows in the presence of electric and magnetic fields. The results have not shown any detectable effect of the Lorentz force on the supersonic flow separation or on the pressure fluctuation spectra since these preliminary measurements have been done at the fairly low electrical conductivity and transverse DC currents.