Scientific directions

1) Development, diagnostics and applications of low-temperature plasmas for simulation of re-entry heating;
2) Experimental study of heat transfer in sub- and supersonic plasma flows;
3) Plasmodynamics of powerful inductive RF-discharges;
4) CFD modeling inductive plasma flows and heat transfer;
5) Thermochemical testing thermal protection materials in high-enthalpy gas flows;
6) Self-organization phenomena in a low-current Townsend discharge in a thin planar gas gap with a semiconductor cathode;
7) Theoretical study of streamers and leaders in laboratory, usual lightning and the upper atmosphere ("blue jets", "red sprites");
8) Study of contraction (the formation of current filaments) in glow discharge.

History

History of the Laboratory for plasma and radiation/surface interaction, created together with the Institute, is indissolubly connected with development of the experimental base for solving the issues of aerodynamic heating re-entry hypersonic vehicles. In order to meet these issues the four inductive RF-plasmatrons had been constructed: IPG-1 (1963 - 1977), IPG-2 (1977 - 1989), IPG-3 (1984 - :) and IPG-4 (1989 - :). M.I. Yakushin, who had been managering the Laboratory since the first day until November 2001 put the two fundamental principles. The first one: to have the two facilities - R&D facility for investigations of plasma/material interactions physics and another one, more powerful engineering facility for testing elements of the thermal protection. That principle was realized in facilities IPG-4 and IPG-3. The second principle: joint work of the experimenters and theorists in order to accurately extrapolate the results of material testing to the hypersonic flight conditions.

In the laboratory have been studied and tested practically all the thermal protection materials developed at NPO "Energy" and "Molnia" for different space vehicles. The laboratory was engaged in the State program "Buran". At the first time the catalytic properties of the thermal protection materials with respect to atomic recombination were determined. Multicyclic (up to 100) testing thermal protection tiles of the "Buran" vehicle at the conditions, which simulate aerodynamic heating and material oxidation, were carried out.

In the frameworks of international ISTC and INTAS projects the theory and technical approach for simulation of thermochemical plasma/surface interaction for entrees of space vehicles in the Earth and Mars atmosphere were developed. At the last time in collaboration with ONERA (France) and VKI (Belgium) in the IPG-4 plasmatron catalytic properties and oxidation process of SiC material for trajectory parameters of European experimental space vehicles Pre-X and EXPERT were studied.

Up to now exploitation of RF-plasmatrons has confirmed correctness of technical and engineering solutions undertaken. At the present time the team and both facilities are claimed by Russian aerospace industry.

Scientific cooperation

Laboratory has tight connections with Zhukovsky TsAGI, TsNIIMash, RSC "Energy", NIIMech MSU, Christianovich ITAM. Laboratory cooperates with the leading aerospace institutions in Europe: European Space Agency, EADS (France), VKI (Belgium), DLR (Germany).

Achievements

Yu.P. Raizer: The Laureate of Lenin Prize, 1966. Penning Award winner, 1993 ( it was the prize of The International Scientific Committee on Ionized Gas Physics; one scientist was honored with this prize once for two year, at ICPIG Conference). The Laureate of State Prize of Russian Federation, 1999. Award of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) on Plasmadynamics and Lasers, 2002. Honoured Science Worker of the Russian Federation.

V.V. Ragulsky: The Laureate of USSR State Prize, 1983 Corresponding academician of Russian Academy of Sciences Member of the RAS commissions on Prizes and Awards named after the prominent Russian scientists Member of the board of adjudicators of the National Children Prize

A.F. Kolesnikov: The Laureate of USSR State Prize, 1988

Yu.K. Rulev: The medal for Valorous Labour.

Most publications

1. Zel'dovich Ya.B. & Raizer Yu.P., Physics of Shock Waves and High-Temperature Hydrodynamics Phenomena, Academic Press USA 1968 , Dover 2002.
2. Raizer Yu.P., Gas Discharge Physics, Springer-Verlag Germany, USA,1991, 1997.
3. Raizer Yu.P., Laser-Induced Discharges, Consultants Bureau USA,1978.
4.Raizer Yu.P., Shneider M.N. and Yatsenko N.A., Radio-Frequency Capacitive Discharges, CRC Press ,USA, 1995.
5. Bazelyan E.M. & Raizer Yu.P., Spark Discharge, CRC Press,USA, 1997.
6. Bazelyan E.M. & Raizer Yu.P., Lightning and Lightning Protection Physics IOP Publishing, UK, 2000.
7. Bazelyan E.M., Raizer Yu.P. and Aleksandrov N.L. Corona initiated from grounded objects under thunderstorm conditions and its influence on lightning attachment. Plasma Sources Science &Technology, 2008, V.17, P. 024015.
8. Mokrov M.S. and Raizer Yu.P. On the mechanism of the negative differential resistance of Townsend discharge. Plasma Sources Science &Technology, 2008, V.17, P.035031.
9. Raizer Yu.P. and Mokrov M.S. A simple physical model of hexagonal patterns in a Townsend discharge with a semiconductor cathode, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys., 2010, 43 255204.
10. Raizer Y.P., Milikh G.M. and Shneider M.N. Streamer and leader like processes in the upper atmosphere: Models of red sprites and blue jets, Journ. Geophys. Res. 2010, 115, A00E42, doi:10.1029/2009JA014645.
11. Vasil'evskii S.A., Kolesnikov A.F., Yakushin M.I. Determination of Effective Probabilities of Atoms Heterogeneous Recombination under Conditions when Gas-phase Reactions Affect the Heat Flux. High temperature, 1991, т. 29, 3.
12. Kolesnikov A.F. Conditions of Simulation of Stagnation point heat Transfer from a High-enthalpy Flow. Fluid Dynamics, 1993, 1.
13 Kolesnikov A.F. The Aerothermodynamic Simulation in Sub- and Supersonic High-Enthalpy Jets: Experiment and Theory, Second European Symposium on Aerothermodynamics for Space Vehicles, ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands, 1994, Proceedings, p. 583-588.
14. Kovalev V.L., Kolesnikov A.F., Krupnov A.A., Yakushin M.I. Analysis of Phenomenological Models Describing the Catalytic Properties of High-temperature Reusable Coatings. Fluid Dynamics, 1996, 6.
15. Bykova N.G., Vasil'evskii S.A., Gordeev A.N., Kolesnikov A.F., Pershin I.S., Yakushin M.I. Determination of the Effective Probabilities of Catalytic Reactions on the Surfaces of Heat Shield Materials in Dissociated Carbon Dioxide Flows. Fluid Dynamics, 1997, 6.
16. Kolesnikov A.F., Marraffa L. An Analysis of Stagnation Point Thermochemical Simulation by Plasmatron for Mars Probe. AIAA 99-3564, June 1999.
17. Kolesnikov A.F., Yakushin M.I., Pershin I.S., Vasil'evskii S.A. Heat Transfer Simulation and Surface Catalycity Prediction at the Martian Atmosphere Entry Conditions. AIAA 99-4892, Nov. 1999.
18. Kolesnikov A.F., Pershin I.S., Vasil'evskii S.A., Yakushin M.I. Study of Quarz Surface Cataliсity in Dissociated Carbon Dioxide Subsonic Flows, J. Spacecraft and Rockets, 2000, Vol 37, No. 5, pp. 573-579.
19. Vasil'evskii S.A., Kolesnikov A.F. Numerical Simulation of Equilibrium Induction Plasma Flows in a Cylindrical Plasmatron Channel. Fluid Dynamics, 2000, 5.
20. Afonina N.E., Vasil'evskii S.A., Gromov V.G., Kolesnikov A.F., Pershin I.S., Sakharov V.I., Yakushin M.I. Flow and Heat Transfer in Underexpanded Air Jets Issuing from the Sonic Nozzle of a Plasma Generator. Fluid Dynamics, 2002, 5.
21. Kolesnikov A. General Formulation of Multicomponent Plasmas Transport Equations with Ambipolar Approach for Weakly Ionized Gases. AIAA-2003-1055, 2003.
22. Kolesnikov A.F., Yakushin M.I., Pershin I.S., Vasil'evskii S.A., Bykova N.G., Gordeev A.N., Chazot O., Muylaert J. Comparative Analysis of the Inductive Plasmatrons Capabilities for Thermochemical Simulation at the Earth and Mars Atmospheric Entry Conditions, International Conference on the Methods of Aerophysical Research, 1-7 July, 2002, Novosibirsk, Russia. Proceedings, Part III. Novosibirsk, Publishing House "Nonparel", 2002, pp. 114-119.
23. Kolesnikov A.F., Pershin I.S., Vasil'evskii S.A. Predicting Catalycity of Si-based Coating and Stagnation Point Heat Transfer in High-Enthalpy CO2 Subsonic Flows for the Mars Entry Conditions, International Workshop on Planetary Probe Atmospheric Entry and Descent Trajectory Analysis and Science, Lisbon, Portugal, October 2003, ESA SP-544, February 2004, pp. 77-83.
24. Bykova N.G., Vasil'evskii S.A., Kolesnikov A.F. Influence of Radiation on Spatial Distribution of Temperature in Subsonic Inductive Plasma Flows. High Temperature, 2004, Т. 42, N 1.
25. Kolesnikov A.F., Vasil'evskii S.A. An analysis of IPG-4 plasmatron capabilities for simulation of the EXPERT stagnation point re-entry heating. Proc. 5th European Symposium on Aerothermodynamics for Space Vehicles. ESA SP-563, February 2005, pp. 249-254.
26. Gordeev A.N., Kolesnikov A.F., Rulev Yu.K. Extended operating regimes of the 1-MW power inductively coupled plasma torch. Proc. 15th Int. Conf on MHD Energy Conversion and 6th Int. Workshop on Magnetoplasma Aerodynamics. Moscow, May 24-27, 2005. Vol. 1, pp. 164-170.
27. Vanden Abeele D., Kolesnikov A.F., Gordeev A.N., Rulev Yu.K., Degrez G. Theoretical and experimental study of the scaling behaviour of high-pressure inductively coupled plasma sources. Proc. 15th Int. Conf on MHD Energy Conversion and 6th Int. Workshop on Magnetoplasma Aerodynamics. Moscow, May 24-27, 2005. Vol. 1, pp. 198-205.
28. Rini P., Kolesnikov A.F., Vasil'evskii S.A., Chazot O., Degrez G. CO2 stagnation line flow simulation for Mars entry applications. 38th AIAA Thermophysics Conference, 6-9 June 2005, Toronto, Canada, AIAA Paper 2005-5206, 11 p.
29. Kovalev V.L., Kolesnikov A.F. Experimental and Theoretical Simulation of Heterogeneous Catalysis in Aerothermochemistry (a Review). Fluid Dynamics, 2005, 5.
30. Kolesnikov A.F., Gordeev A.N., Vasil'evskii S.A. Theory and technical approach for simulation of the stagnation point re-entry heating in high-enthalpy subsonic flows. Papers from East-West High Speed Flow Field Conference-2005, Beijing, China, October 19-22, 2005, pp. 373-378.
31. Sakharov V.I., Gromov V.G., Kolesnikov A.F., Gordeev A.N. CFD Modeling of Non-Equilibrium Flow in an Under-Expanded Plasmatron Air Jets Over a Flat-End Cylindrical Model. The 7th International Workshop on Magneto-Plasma-Aerodynamics.JIVTAN, 2007. pp. 45-50.
32. Kolesnikov A.F., Gordeev A.N., Vasil'evskii S.A., Sakharov V.I. Codes-to-Experiment Comparison for Subsonic Inductive Air Plasma Flows in the IPG-4 Plasmatron. The 7th International Workshop on Magneto-Plasma-Aerodynamics.JIVTAN, 2007. pp. 218-226.
33. Kolesnikov A.F., Gordeev A.N., Sakharov V.I. Flow Field and Heat Transfer in Supersonic Air Plasma Jets: Experiment on RF-Plasmatron and CFD Modeling. All-Russian Schcool-Seminar "Aerophysics and physical mechanics of classical and quantum systems", APhM-2007. Proceedings, Moscow, IPMech RAS, 2007.
34. Gordeev A.N., Kolesnikov A.F. New Regimes of Plasma Flows and Heat Transfer in the IPG-4 Plasmatron. All-Russian Schcool-Seminar "Aerophysics and physical mechanics of classical and quantum systems", APhM-2007. Proceedings, Moscow, IPMech RAS, 2007.
35. Balat- Pichelin M., Kovalev V.L., Kolesnikov A.F., Krupnov A.A. Effect of the Incomplete Accommodation of the Heterogeneous Recombination Energy on Heat Fluxes to a Quartz Surface. Fluid Dynamics, 2008, 5.
36. Vasil'evskii S.A., Kolesnikov A.F. Numerical Study of Flow Fields and Heat Transfer in Inductive Plasmas of RF-Plasmatron. Encyclopedia of low temperature plasmas. Series B. Volume VII - 1. Part 2. YaNUS-K. 2008.
37. Gordeev A.N., Kolesnikov A.F. Experimental Simulation of Heat Transfer in an HF-Plasmatron with Lengthened Segmented Discharge Channel. Fluid Dynamics, 2010, 3.
38. Ragulsky V.V. Phase conjugation in induced light scattering. Moscow, Publish.House "Nauka", 1990, ISBN 5-02-006706-7.
39. Ragul'skii V.V. An Experimental Study of the Optical Isotropy of Space. Physics-Uspekhi, 1997, 40, pp. 972-974, http://ufn.ru/en/articles/1997/9/j/.
40. Ragulsky V.V., Sidorovich V.G. Propagation of Light from an Extended Source Through an Optically Inhomogeneous Medium. Doklady Physics, 2002, 47 (5), pp. 332-336.
41. Ragulsky V.V., Optical Communication Device. Patent ID: US 6829439, Issue date: Dec.07, 2004. http://www.patents.com/optical-communication-device-6829439.html
42. Ragulsky V.V., The Most Remarkable of the Scientists: on the occasion of the 130th birthday of L.I.Mandelstam. Physics-Uspekhi, 2009, 52, pp. 1177-1183, http://ufn.ru/en/articles/2009/11/k.

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