Subsonic Radiation Gas Dynamics in a Laser Plasma Generator Channel

Abstract

The radiation gasdynamic processes in the channel of an air laser plasma generator operating at atmospheric pressure are analyzed. In the multigroup approximation a numerical radiation gasdynamic model is formulated on the basis of the equations of motion of a viscous heat-conducting gas and the selective thermal radiation transport equation. Laminar and turbulent subsonic generator operation regimes are considered. For the purpose of approximately describing the turbulent gas and plasma mixing the Navier-Stokes equations averaged after Reynolds and the k-e turbulence model are used. The problem is solved in the time-dependent two-dimensional axisymmetric formulation. Strong radiation-gasdynamic interaction regimes are investigated. In these regimes the energy losses due to radiation from the high-temperature region of the laser plasma and the absorption of its thermal self-radiation by the surrounding plasma and gas layers (radiation reabsorption) appreciably affect the gasdynamic flow structure. Two methods of integrating the selective thermal radiation transport equation in the generator channel are discussed. In one of these the thermal radiation transport is calculated inside the heated volume and in the other the radiation heat fluxes are calculated on the surfaces bounding the volume. The results of calculating the spectral and integral radiation heat fluxes on the inner surface of the generator are given.