Mechanisms and Responses of a Single Dielectric Barrier Plasma Actuator: Plasma Morphology

We present simultaneous optical, electrical, and thrust measurements of an aerodynamic plasma actuator. These measurements indicate that the plasma actuator is a form of the dielectric barrier discharge, whose behavior is governed primarily by the buildup of charge on the dielectric-encapsulated ele...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:AIAA journal 2004-03, Vol.42 (3), p.589-594
Main Authors: Enloe, C. L, McLaughlin, Thomas E, VanDyken, Robert D, Kachner, K. D, Jumper, Eric J, Corke, Thomas C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aerodynamics
Dielectrics
Electrodes
Exact sciences and technology
Flow control
Fluid dynamics
Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications)
General equipment and techniques
Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy
Measurement
Physics
Plasma
Servo and control equipment
robots
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Summary:We present simultaneous optical, electrical, and thrust measurements of an aerodynamic plasma actuator. These measurements indicate that the plasma actuator is a form of the dielectric barrier discharge, whose behavior is governed primarily by the buildup of charge on the dielectric-encapsulated electrode. Our measurements reveal the temporal and macroscale spatial structure of the plasma. Correlating the morphology of the plasma and the electrical characteristics of the discharge to the actuator performance as measured by the thrust produced indicates a direct coupling between the interelectrode electric field (strongly modified by the presence of the plasma) and the charges in the plasma. Our measurements discount bulk heating or asymmetries in the structure of the discharge as mechanisms for the production of bulk motion of the surrounding neutral air, although such asymmetries clearly exist and impact the effectiveness of the actuator.
ISSN:0001-1452
1533-385X
DOI:10.2514/1.2305