Influence of air pressure on mechanical effect of laser plasma shock wave

The influence of air pressure on mechanical effect of laser plasma shock wave in a vacuum chamber produced by a Nd：YAG laser has been studied. The laser pulses with pulse width of 10ns and pulse energy of about 320mJ at 1.06μm wavelength is focused on the aluminium target mounted on a ballistic pendulum, and the air pressure in the chamber changes from 2.8 × 10^ 3 to 1.01 × 10^5pa. The experimental results show that the impulse coupling coefficient changes as the air pressure and the distance of the target from focus change. The mechanical effects of the plasma shock wave on the target are analysed at different distances from focus and the air pressure.

Clinical application of plasma shock wave lithotripsy in treating impacted stones in the bile duct system

AIM： To verify the safety and efficacy of plasma shock wave lithotripsy （PSWL） in fragmenting impacted stones in the bile duct system. METHODS： From September 1988 to April 2005, 67 patients （26 men and 41 women） with impacted stones underwent various biliary operations with tube （or T-tube） drainage. Remnant and impacted stones in the bile duct system found by cholangiography after the operation were fragmented by PSWL and choledochofiberscopy. A total of 201 impacted stones were fragmented by PSWL setting the voltage at 2.5-3.5 kV, and the energy output at 2-3.1 for each pulse of PSWL. Then the fragmented stones were extracted by choledochofiberscopy. The safety and efficacy of PSWL were observed during and after the procedure. RESULTS： One hundred and ninety-nine of 201 impacted stones （99.0%） in the bile duct system were successfully fragmented using PSWL and extracted by choledochofiberscopy. The stone clearance rate for patients was 97% （65/67）. Ten patients felt mild pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, and could tolerate it well. Eleven patients had a small amount of bleeding from the mucosa of the bile duct. The bleeding was transient and stopped spontaneously within 2 min of normal saline irrigation. There were no significant complications during and after the procedure. CONCLUSION：PSWL is a safe and effective method for fragmenting impacted stones in the bile duct system.

Shadowgraph investigation of plasma shock wave evolution from Al target under 355-nm laser ablation

The propagation of a plasma shock wave generated from an Al target surface ablated by a nanosecond Nd：YAG laser operating at 355 nm in air is investigated at the different focusing positions of the laser beam by using a time-resolved shadowgraph imaging technique. The results show that in the case of a target surface set at the off-focus position, the condition of the focal point behind or in front of the target surface greatly influences the evolution of an Al plasma shock wave, and an ionization channel forms in the case of the focal point set in front of the target surface. Moreover, it is found that the shadowgraph with the evolution time around 100 ns shows that a protrusion appears at the front tip of the shock wave if the focal point is at the target surface. In addition, the calculated results of the expanding velocity of the shock wave front, the mass density, and pressure just behind the shock wave front are presented based on the shadowgraphs.

Study of laser-induced plasma shock waves by the probe beam deflection technique

Laser probe beam deflection technique is used for the analysis of laser-induced plasma shock waves in air and distilled water. The temporal and spatial variations of the parameters on shock fronts are studied as functions of focal lens position and laser energy. The influences of the characteristics of media are investigated on the well-designed experimental setup. It is found that the shock wave in distilled water attenuates to an acoustic wave faster than in air under the same laser energy. Good agreement is obtained between our experimental results and those attained with other techniques. This technique is versatile, economic, and simple to implement, being a promising diagnostic tool for pulsed laser processing.

Material Measurement Method Based on Femtosecond Laser Plasma Shock Wave

The acoustic emission signal of laser plasma shock wave, which comes into being when femtosecond laser ablates pure Cu, Fe, and A1 target material, has been detected by using the fiber Fabry-Perot （F-P） acoustic emission sensing probe. The spectrum characters of the acoustic emission signals for three kinds of materials have been analyzed and studied by using Fourier transform. The results show that the frequencies of the acoustic emission signals detected from the three kinds of materials are different. Meanwhile, the frequencies are almost identical for the same materials under different ablation energies and detection ranges. Certainly, the amplitudes of the spectral character of the three materials show a fixed pattern. The experimental results and methods suggest a potential application of the plasma shock wave on-line measurement based on the femtosecond laser ablating target by using the fiber F-P acoustic emission sensor probe.

Study of Variation Patterns of Shock Wave Control by Different Plasma Aerodynamic Actuations

Demonstrative experiments on the variation patterns of the position, angle, and intensity of shock wave are presented. Different means of aerodynamic actuation, such as variations of the distance between discharge channels, the number of discharge channels, the DC discharge voltage, the angle of ramp, and the application of magnetic field, in a supersonic flow of M = 2.2 are employed. Results of both the schlieren and pressure test indicated that when the plasma aerodynamic actuation is applied, the starting point of the shock wave was shifted 1 mm to 8 mm upstream on average, the shock wave angle was reduced 470 to 8% on average, and the shock wave intensity was decreased by 8% to 26%. The local plasma aerodynamic actuation could generate an extrusive plasma layer with high temperature and pressure. This plasma layer caused an upstream-shift of the separating point of the boundary layer. which changed the structure of the original shock wave. Moreover, in a simulation study, the plasma aerodynamic actuation was simplified as a thermal source term added to the Navier-Stokes equations, after all, the results obtained showed consistency with the experimental results.

Ion-Acoustic Shock Waves in Nonextensive Electron-Positron-Ion Plasma

A rigorous theoretical investigation is made of ion-acoustic shock structures in an unmagnetized three-component plasma whose constituents are nonextensive electrons, nonextensive positrons, and inertial ions. The Burgers equation is derived by employing the reductive perturbation method. The effects of electron and positron nonextensivity and ion kinematic viscosity on the properties of these ion-acoustic shock waves are briefly discussed. It is found that shock waves with positive and negative potentials are obtained to depend on the plasma parameters. The entailment of our results may be useful to understand some astrophysical and cosmological scenarios including stellar polytropes, hadronic matter and quark-gluon plasma, protoneutron stars, dark-matter halos, etc., where effects of nonextensivity can play significant roles.

Positron-Acoustic Shock Waves in a Degenerate Multi-Component Plasma

A theoretical investigation on the propagation of positron-acoustic shock waves （PASWs） in an unmagnetized, collisionless, dense plasma （containing non-relativistic inertial cold positrons, non-relativistic or ultra-relativistic degenerate electron and hot positron fluids and nondegenerate positively charged immobile ions） is carried out by employing the reductive perturbation method. The Burgers equation and its stationary shock wave solution are derived and numerically analyzed. It is observed that the relativistic effect （i.e., the presence of non/ultra- relativistic electrons and positrons） and the plasma particle number densities play vital roles in the propagation of PASWs. The implications of our results in space and interstellar compact objects including non-rotating white dwarfs, neutron stars, etc. are briefly discussed.

Spectroscopic Measurement of Shock Waves in an Arcjet Plasma Expanding Through a Conical Nozzle

A diamond-shaped shock wave was created in a helium arcjet plasma. Visi- ble/ultraviolet emission spectroscopy was used to investigate the condition for the formation of stable shocks and to determine characteristics of the plasma. Dependence of the position of the shock front on the gas pressure in the expansion region was investigated. It was found that the shock wave arises from the collision of plasma particles and residual neutral atoms in that region. Continuum and line spectra of neutral helium were measured, from which the electron temper- atures were derived. The electron density was deduced from the Inglis-Teller limit of the He I 2p3p-3d3D series. The temperature and density were found to have almost constant values of 0.2 eV and 8.5x 1013 cm-3, respectively, across the shock front.

Analysis of Nonlinear Dust-Acoustic Shock Waves in an Unmagnetized Dusty Plasma with q-Nonextensive Electrons Where Dust Is Arbitrarily Charged Fluid

The nonlinear propagation of dust-acoustic (DA) shock waves in three-component unmagnetized dusty plasma consisting of nonextensive electrons, Maxwellian ions and arbitrarily charged mobile dust grain has been investigated. It is found that the presence of q-nonextensive electrons and ions can change the nonlinear behavior of shock wave. The standard reductive perturbation method is employed to study the basic features (phase speed, amplitude and width) of DA shock waves (DASWs) which are significantly modified by the presence of Maxwellian ions and nonextensive electrons. The present investigation can be very effective for understanding the nonlinear characteristics of the DASWs in space and laboratory dusty plasmas.

Effects of bi-kappa distributed electrons on dust-ion-acoustic shock waves in dusty superthermal plasmas

The basic properties of dust-ion-acoustic （DIA） shock waves in an unmagnetized dusty plasma （containing inertial ions, kappa distributed electrons with two distinct temperatures, and negatively charged immobile dust grains） are investi- gated both numerically and analytically. The hydrodynamic equation for inertial ions has been used to derive the Burgers equation. The effects of superthermal bi-kappa electrons and ion kinematic viscosity, which are found to modify the basic features of DIA shock waves significantly, are briefly discussed.

Quantum Electrostatic Shock-Waves in Symmetric Pair-Plasmas

In this paper, the quantum hydrodynamics (QHD) model is used to study the propagation of small- but finite-amplitude quantum electrostatic shock-wave in an inertial-less symmetric pair (ion) plasma with immobile background positive constituents. The dispersion due to the quantum tunneling and inertial effects as well as dissipation caused by particle collisions leading to the shock-like or double-layer structures are considered. Investigation of both the stationary and traveling-wave solutions to Kortewege-de Veries-Burgers evolution equation show that critical values exist which govern the type of collective plasma structures. Current analysis apply to diverse kind of symmetric plasmas such as laboratory inertially confined or astrophysical pair-ion or electron-positron degenerate plasmas.

Ion acoustic shock and periodic waves through Burgers equation in weakly and highly relativistic plasmas with nonextensivity

A comparative study is carried out for the nonlinear propagation of ion acoustic shock waves both for the weakly and highly relativistic plasmas consisting of relativistic ions and qdistributed electrons and positions.The Burgers equation is derived to reveal the physical phenomena using the well known reductive perturbation technique.The integration of the Burgers equation is performed by the（G￠/G）-expansion method.The effects of positron concentration,ion–electron temperature ratio,electron–positron temperature ratio,ion viscosity coefficient,relativistic streaming factor and the strength of the electron and positron nonextensivity on the nonlinear propagation of ion acoustic shock and periodic waves are presented graphically and the relevant physical explanations are provided.

DIA Solitary and Shock Waves in Dusty Multi-Ion Dense Plasma with Arbitrary Charged Dust

The nonlinear propagation of the DIA (dust ion-acoustic) waves in multi-ion dense plasma system containing degener- ate electrons, both positive and negative ions, arbitrary charged dust grains has been investigated by employing the reductive perturbation method. The nonlinear waves (solitary and shock waves) have been observed to be formed in case of both positive and negative charged dust grains from the stationary solution of the Korteweg de-Vries (K-dV) equation and Burger’s equation. The fundamental properties of such nonlinear waves have been theoretically analyzed by comparing system potential for both positive and negative dust grains. It has been shown that the basic features of these waves are significantly modified by the positive and negative ions drift speed and polarities of dust grains. The implications of our results in space and laboratory plasmas are briefly discussed.

Air Plasma Mitigation of Shock Wave

Shock wave is a detriment in the development of supersonic aircrafts;it increases flow drag as well as surface heating from additional friction;it also initiates sonic boom on the ground which precludes supersonic jetliner to fly overland. A shock wave mitigation technique is demonstrated by experiments conducted in a Mach 2.5 wind tunnel. Non-thermal air plasma generated symmetrically in front of a wind tunnel model and upstream of the shock, by on-board 60 Hz periodic electric arc discharge, works as a plasma deflector, it deflects incoming flow to transform the shock from a well-defined attached shock into a highly curved shock structure. In a sequence with increasing discharge intensity, the transformed curve shock increases shock angle and moves upstream to become detached with increasing standoff distance from the model. It becomes diffusive and disappears near the peak of the discharge. The flow deflection increases the equivalent cone angle of the model, which in essence, reduces the equivalent Mach number of the incoming flow, manifesting the reduction of the shock wave drag on the cone. When this equivalent cone angle exceeds a critical angle, the shock becomes detached and fades away. This shock wave mitigation technique helps drag reduction as well as eliminates sonic boom.

Shock Wave Mitigation by Air Plasma Deflector

When the spacecraft flies much faster than the sound speed (~1200 km/h), the airflow disturbances deflected forward from the spacecraft cannot get away from the spacecraft and form a shock wave in front of it. Shock waves have been a detriment for the development of supersonic aircrafts, which have to overcome high wave drag and surface heating from additional friction. Shock wave also produces sonic booms. The noise issue raises environmental concerns, which have precluded routine supersonic flight over land. Therefore, mitigation of shock wave is essential to advance the development of supersonic aircrafts. A plasma mitigation technique is studied. A theory is presented to show that shock wave structure can be modified via flow deflection. Symmetrical deflection evades the need of exchanging the transverse momentum between the flow and the deflector. The analysis shows that the plasma generated in front of the model can effectively deflect the incoming flow. A non-thermal air plasma, generated by on-board 60 Hz periodic electric arc discharge in front of a wind tunnel model, was applied as a plasma deflector for shock wave mitigation technique. The experiment was conducted in a Mach 2.5 wind tunnel. The results show that the air plasma was generated symmetrically in front of the wind tunnel model. With increasing discharge intensity, the plasma deflector transforms the shock from a welldefined attached shock into a highly curved shock structure with increasing standoff distance from the model;this curved shock has increased shock angle and also appears in increasingly diffused form. In the decay of the discharge intensity, the shock front is first transformed back to a well-defined curve shock, which moves downstream to become a perturbed oblique shock;the baseline shock front then reappears as the discharge is reduced to low level again. The experimental observations confirm the theory. The steady of the incoming flow during the discharge cycle is manifested by the repeat of the baseline shock front.

Experimental Investigation on Airfoil Shock Control by Plasma Aerodynamic Actuation

An experimental investigation on airfoil （NACA64-215） shock control is performed by plasma aerodynamic actuation in a supersonic tunnel （Ma -= 2）. The results of schlieren and pressure measurement show that when plasma aerodynamic actuation is applied, the position moves forward and the intensity of shock at the head of the airfoil weakens. With the increase in actuating voltage, the total pressure measured at the head of the airfoil increases, which means that the shock intensity decreases and the control effect increases. The best actuation effect is caused by upwind-direction actuation with a magnetic field, and then downwind-direction actuation with a magnetic field, while the control effect of aerodynamic actuation without a magnetic field is the most inconspicuous. The mean intensity of the normal shock at the head of the airfoil is relatively decreased by 16.33%, and the normal shock intensity is relatively reduced by 27.5% when 1000 V actuating voltage and upwind-direction actuation are applied with a magnetic field. This paper theoretically analyzes the Joule heating effect generated by DC discharge and the Lorentz force effect caused by the magnetic field. The discharge characteristics are compared for all kinds of actuation conditions to reveal the mechanism of shock control by plasma aerodynamic actuation.

Shock Wave and Particle Velocities of Typical Metals on Shock Adiabats

The high-pressure shock wave data obtained in underground nuclear tests and high-power laser experiments are analyzed using a three-term equation of state and the Hugoniot relationship. Apart from the good agreement of the predicted results with experimental data related to samples Pb, Cu, and Au, an obvious deviation of the experimental data of the Fe sample from the corresponding numerical ones is found, and various comparisons of the data imply that the errors are likely to occur in the measurement rather than in the theoretical prediction. Plentiful data pertaining to a set of metal materials on shock adiabats reveal that there exists an asymptotic parabolic relationship between shock pressure or temperature and particle velocity for very strong shock waves, in contrast to the experimentally well-known linear relationship between shock wave velocity and particle velocity. All these are expounded physically in detail.

Diagnosis of Electron,Vibrational and Rotational Temperatures in an Ar/N2 Shock Plasma Jet Produced by a Low Pressure DC Cascade Arc Discharge

In this paper, a low pressure Ar/N2 shock plasma jet with clearly multicycle al- ternating zones produced by a DC cascade arc discharge has been investigated by an emission spectral method combined with Abel inversion analysis. Plasma emission intensity, electron, vi- brational and rotational temperatures of the shock plasma have been measured in the expansion and compression zones. The results indicate that the ranges of the measured electron temperature, vibrational temperature and rotational temperature are 1.1 eV to 1.6 eV, 0.2 eV to 0.7 eV and 0.19 eV to 0.22 eV, respectively, and it is found for the first time that the vibrational and rota- tional temperatures increase while the electron temperature decreases in the compression zones. The electron temperature departs from the vibrational and the rotational temperatures due to non-equilibrium plasma effects. Electrons and heavy particles could not completely exchange energy via collisions in the shock plasma jet under the low pressure of 620 Pa or so.

Transmission characteristics of EM wave in a finite thickness plasma

One of the key factors for solving the problems of re-entry communication interruption is electromagnetic（EM） wave transmission characteristics in a plasma.Theoretical and experimental studies were carried out on specific transmission characteristics for different plasma sheath characteristic under thin sheath condition in re-entry state.The paper presents systematic studies on the variations of wave attenuation characteristics versus plasma sheath thickness L,collision frequency ν,electron density n e and wave working frequency f in a φ 800 mm high temperature shock tube.In experiments,L is set to 4 cm and 38 cm.ν is 2 GHz and 15 GHz.n e is from 1×10 10 cm（-3） to 1×10 13 cm（-3）,and f is set to 2,5,10,14.6 GHz,respectively.Meanwhile,Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin（WKB） and finite-difference time-domain（FDTD） methods are adopted to carry out theoretical simulation for comparison with experimental results.It is found that when L is much larger than EM wavelength λ（thick sheath） and ν is large,the theoretical result is in good agreement with experimental one,when sheath thickness L is much larger than λ,while ν is relatively small,two theoretical results are obviously different from the experimental ones.It means that the existing theoretical model can not fully describe the contribution of ν.Furthermore,when L and λ are of the same order of magnitude（thin sheath）,the experimental result is much smaller than the theoretical values,which indicates that the current model can not properly describe the thin sheath effect on EM attenuation characteristics.