Plasma manipulation using a MHD-based device for a communication blackout in hypersonic flights

Abstract

When a vehicle flies with hypersonic velocity, a weakly ionized plasma layer is generated around the vehicle due to the shock heated air. Since the created plasma layer has a high electron number density, the vehicle has a communication difficulty known as radio blackout. In this study, we propose an innovative concept of a mitigation scheme based on MHD. The proposed mitigation scheme uses an ExB layer to manipulate the plasma density in a specific region during hypersonic flights. Due to the reduced electron number density in the plasma layer, it provides the possibility for communication during radio blackout.

Mitigation of reentry blackout via gas injection in arc-heating facility

“…Belov et al [5] investigated the effects of body shape on the mitigation effect via wind tunnel tests. Kim et al [6,7] reported a method to control the plasma density by applying a magnetic field around the vehicle, and the mitigation effect was experimentally demonstrated by Steffens et al [8]. Jung et al [9] and Takasawa et al [10] showed both numerically and experimentally that catalysis of the surface of the body head promotes recombination reactions in the plasma and reduces the ambient electron number density.…”