Preliminary Studies of Spallation Particles Ejected from an Ablator

Abstract

Spallation particles emitted from an ablating test model mounted in a supersonic arc-heated air flow was investigated experimentally and computationally. Emission spectra of CN violet band and C₂ swan band, that were attributed to spallation particles, were identified not only inside the shock layer of the ablator but also outside of it. Since the evidence of the presence of spallation particles was found, the trajectory of a spallation particle was simulated to reveal the conditions for the flight to the upstream of the shock layer. The simulation was made by ejecting a solid particle at various speeds from the front surface of the ablator.