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Plasma ignition for laser propulsion
| Content Provider | NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) |
|---|---|
| Author | Askew, R. F. |
| Copyright Year | 1982 |
| Description | For a specific optical system a pulsed carbon dioxide laser having an energy output of up to 15 joules was used to initiate a plasma in air at one atmosphere pressure. The spatial and temporal development of the plasma were measured using a multiframe image converter camera. In addition the time dependent velocity of the laser supported plasma front which moves opposite to the direction of the laser pulse was measured in order to characterize the type of wavefront developed. Reliable and reproducible spark initiation was achieved. The lifetime of the highly dense plasma at the initial focal spot was determined to be less than 100 nanoseconds. The plasma front propagates toward the laser at a variable speed ranging from zero to 1.6 x 1,000,000 m/sec. The plasma front propagates for a total distance of approximately five centimeters for the energy and laser pulse shape employed. |
| File Size | 6782070 |
| Page Count | 26 |
| File Format | |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_19830009093 |
| Archival Resource Key | ark:/13960/t6547jb7h |
| Language | English |
| Publisher Date | 1982-08-01 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Lasers And Masers Spark Ignition Plasma Propulsion Cameras Pulsed Lasers Wave Fronts Spacecraft Propulsion Carbon Dioxide Lasers Ntrs Nasa Technical Reports Server (ntrs) Nasa Technical Reports Server Aerodynamics Aircraft Aerospace Engineering Aerospace Aeronautic Space Science |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
