Graphical Analysis of Laser-Supported Detonation Threshold Propagating through Argon Propellant

Abstract

Laser-supported detonation (LSD), a type of laser-supported plasma (LSP) accompanied by a supersonic flow, is regarded as a very important phenomenon in the field of laser propulsion systems, because it can generate the required high pressures and temperatures. Although laser-supported combustion waves (LSC) are also categorized as a type of LSP wave, their propagation is not adequate for application to a propulsion system. Therefore, LSD is very important for the propagation of LSP. In a previous study, LSP waves were analyzed by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with a multiple-charge ionization model, which accurately described the ionization process. In this study, the LSD-LSC threshold is investigated using p-v graphs, derived from the CFD results. In the LSD threshold case, a notable absorbed region is observed.