Laboratory simulation of vehicle-plasma interaction in low Earth orbit

Details Laboratory simulation of vehicle-plasma interaction in low Earth orbit Laboratory simulation of vehicle-plasma interaction in low Earth orbit

Jan 1994

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1994p%26ss...42...81s&link_type=abstract

Planetary and Space Science (ISSN 0032-0633), vol. 42, no. 1, p. 81-94

Physics

Plasma Physics

13

Earth Orbital Environments, Plasma Interactions, Simulation, Space Plasmas, Spacecraft Charging, Wakes, Electric Fields, Ion Density (Concentration), Ionization, Mach Number, Mathematical Models, Plasma Physics

Scientific paper

We have performed simulations in a plasma chamber of the interaction between a stationary charged body and a streaming plasma. The plasma was set up so as to correspond to the conditions encountered in low Earth orbit (LEO). In this paper we will concentrate on the region of decreased ion density, downstream of the body, known as the `wake' region. The extent of the `near-wake' region (`closure distance') has been utilized to investigate the relative importance of the various factors influencing the formation of the complete wake region. As expected, both the Mach number and the body potential had a significant influence on the wake formation. In fact, it was verified that in the case of the circular disc the functional dependence of the closure distance on the Mach number and the body potential may be fitted to a semi-empirical form developed by Martin et al., (1991) on the basis of numerical simulations. However, it turned out that the general structure of the wake region as well as the closure distance was also very strongly dependent on the body geometry. This is due to the fact that both the magnitude and the distribution of the resulting electric fields are dependent both on the applied voltage and the geometry of the particular body. Hence, the path of the streaming plasma particles will be different for each of the various geometries. This has the consequence that any realistic simulation study of spacecraft-plasma interactions must take into account the detailed geometric specification of the particular system under consideration.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Laboratory simulation of vehicle-plasma interaction in low Earth orbit does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Laboratory simulation of vehicle-plasma interaction in low Earth orbit, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Laboratory simulation of vehicle-plasma interaction in low Earth orbit will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1684348