rdf-syntax-grammar
mods:
  schema location: http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3 http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods/v3/mods-3-2.xsd
  title info:
    title: Gas Kinetic Study of Magnetic Field Effects on Plasma Plumes
  name:
    name part: Ebersohn, Frans Hendrik
    role:
      role term: creator
    role:
      role term: author.
  name:
    name part: Girimaji, Sharath
    role:
      role term: thesis advisor.
  name:
    name part: Staack, David
    role:
      role term: thesis advisor.
  name:
    name part: Texas A & M University
    role:
      role term: degree granting institution.
  type of resource: text
  genre: bibliography
  origin info:
    place:
      place term: txu
    date issued: 2013
    issuance: monographic
  language:
    language term: eng
  physical description:
    form: remote
    extent: 1 online resource.
  abstract: Plasma flow physics in magnetic nozzles must be clearly understood for optimal design of plasma propulsion devices. Toward that end, in this thesis we: i) perform an extensive literature survey of magnetic nozzle physics, ii) assess the validity of magnetohydrodynamics for studying magnetic nozzle physics, and iii) illustrate the effects of the Hall term in simple flows as well as in magnetic nozzle configurations through numerical experiments with the Magneto-Gas Kinetic Method (MGKM). The crucial steps necessary for thrust generation in magnetic nozzles are energy conversion, plasma detachment, and momentum transfer. These three physical phenomena must be understood to optimize magnetic nozzle design. The operating dimensionless parameter ranges of six prominent experiments are considered and the corresponding mechanisms are discussed. An order of magnitude analysis of the governing equations reveal: i) most magnetic nozzles under consideration operate at the edge of the continuum regime rendering continuum-based description and computation valid; ii) in the context of MHD framework, the generalized Ohm's law must be used to capture all of the relevant physics. This work also continues the development of the Magneto Gas Kinetic Method (MGKM) computational tool. Validation of the solver is performed in shock-tube and Hartmann channel flows in the Hall physics regime. Comparison with theory and available data is made whenever possible. Novel numerical experiments of magnetic nozzle plasma jets in the Hall regime are performed, confirming the theoretically predicted azimuthal rotation of the plasma jet due to Hall physics. The primary conclusion from this work is that the addition of the Hall effect generates helical structures in magnetic nozzle plasma flows. Preliminary results are encouraging for future magnetic nozzle studies and further challenges are identified. The electronic version of this dissertation is accessible from http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/148434
  note: by Frans Hendrik Ebersohn.
  note: "Major Subject: Aerospace Engineering"
  note: Includes vita.
  note: Master of Science Texas A & M University 2012 http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/148434
  note: Includes bibliographical references.
  note: Text (Thesis)
  subject:
    topic: Major Aerospace Engineering
  subject:
    topic: energy
  subject:
    topic: magneto
  subject:
    topic: method
  subject:
    topic: gas
  subject:
    topic: kinetic
  subject:
    topic: magnetohydrodynamics
  subject:
    topic: Hall
  subject:
    topic: detachment
  subject:
    topic: propulsion
  subject:
    topic: space
  subject:
    topic: nozzle
  subject:
    topic: magnetic
  subject:
    topic: plasma
  identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/148434
  record info:
    record content source: TXA
    record creation date: 131217
    record change date: 20151206090644.0
    record identifier: in00003424903
    language of cataloging:
      language term: eng