Abstract
The laser propulsion is expected to be one of the next-generation space propulsion systems. It is important to analyze the mechanism of LSD (Laser-Supported Detonation) waves, which are caused by laser absorption. The performance of laser propulsion is determined mainly by laser absorption efficiency. At high temperatures where LSD waves are produced, the characteristic physical phenomena of LSD take place in a narrow ionized absorption layer. The most important phenomenon is the inverse bremsstrahlung, a key mechanism in laser absorption: The laser energy is transformed into the kinetic energy of free electrons by photon absorption during electron-ion/neutral collision, which is re-distributed among heavy particles through collisions. Thus, the number density of free electrons is essential to the problem. In this paper, we have generated such an LSD wave by solving an unsteady nonequilibrium 3-dimensional flowfield, taking account of atomic/molecular processes occurring in an Argon plasma consisting of Ar, Ar+ and e- As a numerical method, we have used a modified Harten-Yee-type TVD scheme. Detailed discussions are given on the mechanism of 3-dimensional axisymmetric LSD propagation.
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