Plasma expulsion from the plasma jet igniter

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Abstract
Measurements of the plasma efflux from a pulsed plasma jet igniter show that, contrary to previous expectations, plasma leaves the jet cavity in a substantially supersonic condition. Associated measurements of the electric field of the arc within the cavity and of the time taken for plasma to be expelled from the cavity show, together with the efflux measurements, good agreement with established arc theory and with a theory of plasma expansion based on a model in which the jet cavity is considered to act as the high-pressure section of a conventional shock tube. The implications of this model to the efficiency of a plasma igniter are discussed.