[en] The VKI DRAG-ON facility was designed to replicate Very Low Earth Orbit flow conditions, to study Air-Breathing Electric Propulsion intakes and gas-surface interaction physics. Its Particle Flow Generator produces a low-density, low-temperature argon plasma plume. This study investigates the flow’s thermochemical non-equilibrium by comparing synthetic spectra from Collisional-Radiative modeling to Optical Emission Spectroscopy measurements. A Lagrangian reactor approach is used to account for the reacting species advection, as the chemical and flow timescales are shown to be comparable. The results also highlight the importance of the assumption on the Electron Energy Distribution Function shape. Model-experiment comparisons reveal potential for plasma diagnostics and suggest targeted chemical model refinements.
Disciplines :
Aerospace & aeronautics engineering
Author, co-author :
Fontaine, Bruno ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Aérospatiale et Mécanique (A&M) ; VKI - Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics > Aeronautics and Aerospace department ; ULB - Université Libre de Bruxelles > Aéro-Thermo-Mécanique
Bariselli, Federico; VKI - Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics > Aeronautics and Aerospace department
Parodi, Pietro; KU Leuven - Catholic University of Leuven > Department of mathematics ; VKI - Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics > Aeronautics and Aerospace department
Jorge, Pedro; VUB - Vrije Universiteit Brussel > Materials and chemistry ; VKI - Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics > Aeronautics and Aerospace department
Le Quang, Damien; VKI - Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics > Aeronautics and Aerospace department
Magin, Thierry ; ULB - Université Libre de Bruxelles > Aéro-Thermo-Mécanique ; VKI - Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics > Aeronautics and Aerospace department
Language :
English
Title :
Spatially Resolved Collisional-Radiative Model for a Rarefied Plasma Plume
Publication date :
28 February 2026
Event name :
33rd International Symposium on Rarefied Gas Dynamics
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