Kinetic theory of sheath formation in solar wind plasma

We present a general self-consistent kinetic theory for plasma sheath formation in solar wind plasma. The theory could be applied to anisotropic, as well as to isotropic collisionless plasma without resorting to any simplifications, limitations, or assumptions, such as the necessary existence of a ‘pre-sheath’ region of ions acceleration to ensure the Bohm criterion. The kinetic framework is first applied to sheath formation around an arbitrary oriented planar absorbing surface, charged by solar wind anisotropic plasma, under the condition of negligible photoelectric effect. We then make use of our kinetic approach for the plane geometry in isotropic collisionless plasma, as a particular case of a planar electrode orientation parallel to plasma streaming velocity, also analyzing the sheath structure around spherical and cylindrical absorbing electrodes submerged in isotropic collisionless plasma. Obtained results demonstrate principal differences in spatial charge distributions in sheath regions between spherical or cylindrical electrodes of large size and an unbound planar surface submerged in isotropic plasma. In the case of a planar electrode, we directly compare results obtained in our kinetic and hydrodynamic theories and conventional hydrodynamic theory of plasma sheath formation. The outcome from the present study have direct implications to the analysis of plasma sheath structure and associated distribution in space of charged dust grains, which is relevant to the moon exploration near the optical terminator region or in shadowed craters in the moon.     

Charging of dust grains by anisotropic solar wind multi-component plasma

In this paper we study the charging process of small grain particles by anisotropic multi-component solar wind plasmas (electrons, protons and heavy ions), versus two-component (electron/proton) plasmas. We are focusing attention on the important characteristics of the charging process, namely the charging time, floating potential and current content as functions of plasma parameters such as He⁺⁺/H⁺ (α/p) number density and T_α/T_p temperature ratios of alpha particles to protons, as well as plasma streaming velocity v₀. Measured statistical properties of solar wind plasma parameters at 1 AU show considerable variations in α/p-temperature ratios from 1 to 10, in α/p-number density ratio from 0.01 to 0.35, as well as in values of streaming velocity v₀ from 200 km/s to 1000 km/s and more. Periods of these variations could last for several days each, leading to significant variability in the charging process, according to newly derived general analytical expressions. Numerical calculations performed for protons/alphas plasmas showed large disparity in the charging characteristics. For example, in anisotropic plasma, grain charging time varies up to 90% depending on α/p-particles temperature and number density ratios, whereas changes in floating potential are up to 40%. In contrast, in isotropic plasma, charging characteristic for grains do not change very much for the same plasma parameters variations, with charging time varying about 12% and floating potential only varying about 4%. It is also shown that in highly anisotropic plasma, with all ballistic electrons and ions, dust grains could not hold their charges, and characteristic discharged time is calculated. We note that the analysis is equally applicable to any sized body immersed in solar wind plasma.     

脉冲等离子体推力器羽流特性数值研究

以脉冲等离子体推力器羽流为研究对象,建立三维物理模型,简化并离散电子动量方程,运用单元粒子-直接模拟蒙特卡罗混合法模拟非稳态羽流流动.假定脉冲周期内推进剂粒子按正弦规律进入流场,分析流场中电势、电子、离子和原子数密度分布随着时间变化情况,并通过与已有实验数据的对比验证仿真模型.研究表明:模型能在垂直和平行于推力器极板的两个平面内预测等离子体羽流流场参数.该研究方法、结果对更深入研究脉冲等离子体推力器(PPT)羽流具有参考价值.      

大迎角分离流场在等离子体控制下的特性研究

设计了一种新型的大迎角主动流动控制方法。采用圆锥-圆柱组合体模拟飞行器前体,在靠近圆锥尖端处镶嵌了一对马蹄形单电极介质阻挡放电（single_Dielectric Barrier Discharge SDBD）等离子体激励器,通过风洞实验研究了等离子体激励器在不同状态下对大迎角模型前体的非对称气动载荷的控制作用。实验结果表明,通过控制等离子体激励器的开闭可以使得圆锥-圆柱组合体在大迎角下出现的侧力改变方向。还对通过调节单侧等离子体激励器的激励电压实现圆锥前体侧力系数在正负极值间连续变化的可能性进行了初步的实验探索。     

脉冲等离子体推力器放电波形设计评估仿真研究

运用磁流体动力学的方法,对脉冲等离子体推力器推力室工作过程开展三维双温MHD数值仿真,并开展对推力室的工作机理的分析研究。通过该模型计算得到的推进剂烧蚀质量和元冲量与实验结果相符,同时针对不同初始电压、电容以及两种特征波形的情况进行评估,为推力器的放电波形设计提供指导依据。结果显示在推力器波形设计的初期,是采用电流高变化率低能量水平,还是采用电流低变化率高能量水平,需要结合实际,进行优化评估。     

等离子体涡电磁散射特性及隐身性能

 针对非均匀等离子体在飞行器隐身中的应用,采用分段线性电流密度递归卷积时域有限差分（PLJERC-FDTD）方法计算等离子体涡及涡串电磁散射特性,分析等离子体涡对飞行器隐身性能影响。计算表明,等离子体涡在很大频率区间对电磁波吸收效果显著,RCS降低很大,具有明显的隐身效果。等离子体涡表现出一定规律性的极化特性,对L,S和C波段电磁波具有不同的吸收、反射特性。     

常气压辉光放电等离子体控制翼型失速的数值模拟研究

基于Shyy提出的大气压下均匀辉光放电等离子体与空气干扰的物理模型,通过求解电位势方程得到电场分布,得到了作用于流体上的电场力.通过数值求解考虑等离子体作用的流体运动控制方程,以NACA0015翼型低速绕流为对象,研究了常压辉光放电等离子体位置和个数控制翼型绕流分离的影响.位于分离点上游的等离子体能够有效地抑止翼型分离,而在分离区的等离子体对流动影响很弱,同实验结果一致,并给出了等离子体对翼型气动力影响的规律.     

用于SiC超光滑表面加工的大气等离子体抛光系统设计

设计了一套基于射频电容耦合放电原理的大气等离子体抛光原型装置,电容耦合等离子体炬首次被应用到了抛光系统中。针对SiC反射镜的加工实验结果表明,系统工作正常,并可以实现亚纳米级的表面粗糙度。     

航天器空间碎片被动防护技术

文章介绍了航天器磁力矩器在低轨道等离子体环境中的一些效应。以某型号卫星为例,计算了某型号磁力矩器产生的磁场,分析了等离子体在磁力矩器产生的磁场中的运动状态。经过建模计算,磁力矩器周围等离子体中的电子将在磁力矩器两端往复运动,而距离磁力矩器较远的电子将聚集在磁力矩器的两端附近。     

等离子体隐身技术探讨

阐述了等离子体隐身的概念和原理,进而分析了等离子体隐身的关键技术和发展状况。