How low pressure boosts plasma actuator performance

What is it about?

Plasma actuators are devices that use electrically charged gas—plasma—to control airflow without moving parts, which is helpful in aerospace applications like reducing drag or preventing flow separation over wings. This study explores a special type of plasma actuator called a “sliding discharge” actuator, which uses very short (nanosecond) high-voltage pulses and works even in thin air, such as at high altitudes. We found that as air pressure drops (like when flying higher), the plasma becomes brighter, more uniform, and spreads farther across the actuator surface. At sufficiently low pressures (below about 75 kPa), the plasma can “slide” from one electrode to another, creating a larger, more effective control region. The actuator also heats more under these conditions, with a more even temperature distribution along its length. These results suggest that sliding-discharge plasma actuators could be especially effective for flight control in high-altitude or low-pressure environments—such as on drones or aircraft operating near the edge of space—where traditional flow-control methods struggle.

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Photo by Nikhita Singhal on Unsplash

Photo by Nikhita Singhal on Unsplash