Experimental and theoretical study of a stationary high-current arc in a supersonic nozzle flow

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Abstract
In a previous paper (Hermann et al 1974) a detailed experimental and theoretical investigation of an arc in a supersonic nozzle flow was initiated by discussing the high-pressure arc section near the stagnation point. This paper is a continuation of this work for the section further downstream, especially within the nozzle. Extensive measurements of temperature, flow velocity, pressure and electric field strength are described. Theoretical results are obtained by a two-zone model. A detailed comparison between theory and experiment allows for the first time a complete quantitative discussion of all effects influencing the arc and the flow. Compared with the arc in the high-pressure section the influence of radiative energy transfer decreases. Instead, flow turbulence becomes the dominating exchange mechanism.