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Investigation of Early Plasma Evolution Induced by Ultrashort Laser Pulses
Published on: July 2, 2012
Long lasting modifications to vortex shedding using a short plasma excitation
Timothy N Jukes1, Kwing-So Choi
1Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, United Kingdom. Timothy.Jukes@nottingham.ac.uk
Physical Review Letters
|August 8, 2009
Summary
A short pulse of dielectric-barrier-discharge plasma significantly altered lift and drag on a circular cylinder for many vortex shedding cycles. This plasma-induced flow control offers substantial energy savings.
Area of Science:
- Fluid Dynamics
- Plasma Physics
- Aerodynamics
Background:
- Flow control is crucial for aerodynamic efficiency.
- Understanding vortex dynamics is key to manipulating fluid flow.
- Dielectric-barrier-discharge plasma offers novel flow control possibilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-lasting effects of plasma pulses on cylinder aerodynamics.
- To analyze the mechanism behind plasma-induced flow modification.
- To quantify the potential for drag and lift manipulation.
Main Methods:
- Experimental study using a circular cylinder.
- Application of short dielectric-barrier-discharge plasma pulses.
- Analysis of vortex shedding and aerodynamic forces (lift and drag).
Main Results:
- Plasma pulses modified lift and drag for over eight vortex shedding cycles.
- A secondary vortex initiated by plasma was observed to interact with the von Kármán vortex street.
- Drag and lift fluctuations were either amplified (up to 50%) or suppressed (up to 40%).
- Significant power saving ratios exceeding 1000 were achieved.
Conclusions:
- Dielectric-barrier-discharge plasma provides effective, long-duration flow control for circular cylinders.
- Plasma-induced secondary vortices are responsible for modifying vortex street dynamics.
- This method presents a highly efficient approach for aerodynamic force manipulation.
