Determination of Parameters in Arcjet Plume by Tomographic Reconstruction

The spatial temperature and atomic number density of the plume generated by a 3-kW-class arcjet thruster are determined with a small number of absorption measurements across the plume based on diode-laser absorption computerized tomography. The maximum temperature and atom number density increase with the massflow rate and discharge current. The increase trend is not always found with the specific input power, although there exists an increasing trend with it at a fixed massflow rate. The development of the plume is studied with the measurements of the plume at different locations. The technique should also be applicable to arcjet or other hypersonic flow systems without much modification.