2016/09/13 by Goksel, Berkant, I. Ch. Mashek, Mashek, Igor
Engineering · Medicine · #FOS: Physical sciences #Plasma Applications and Diagnostics #Plasma Diagnostics and Applications #Plasma Physics (physics.plasm-ph) #Plasma and Flow Control in Aerodynamics
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1609.04054
openalex publication_date 2016/09/13 · openalex created_date 2022/10/01 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
A new breakthrough in jet propulsion technology since the invention of the\njet engine is achieved. The first critical tests for future air-breathing\nmagneto-plasma propulsion systems have been successfully completed. In this\nregard, it is also the first time that a pinching dense plasma focus discharge\ncould be ignited at one atmosphere and driven in pulse mode using very fast,\nnanosecond electrostatic excitations to induce self-organized plasma channels\nfor ignition of the propulsive main discharge. Depending on the capacitor\nvoltage (200-600 V) the energy input at one atmosphere varies from 52-320\nJ/pulse corresponding to impulse bits from 1.2-8.0 mNs. Such a new pulsed\nplasma propulsion system driven with one thousand pulses per second would\nalready have thrust-to-area ratios (50-150 kN/m2) of modern jet engines. An\narray of thrusters could enable future aircrafts and airships to start from\nground and reach altitudes up to 50km and beyond. The needed high power could\nbe provided by future compact plasma fusion reactors already in development by\naerospace companies. The magneto-plasma compressor itself was originally\ndeveloped by Russian scientists as plasma fusion device and was later\nminiaturized for supersonic flow control applications. So the first\nbreakthrough is based on a spin-off plasma fusion technology.\n