Mechanisms and Responses of a Single Dielectric Barrier Plasma Actuator: Plasma Morphology

TLDR

The study presents simultaneous optical, electrical, and thrust measurements of an aerodynamic plasma actuator. The authors perform these measurements using simultaneous optical, electrical, and thrust diagnostics. The measurements demonstrate that the actuator operates as a dielectric barrier discharge driven by charge buildup on the dielectric‑encapsulated electrode, reveal its temporal and spatial plasma structure, show a direct coupling between plasma morphology, electrical characteristics, and thrust, and rule out bulk heating or discharge asymmetries as primary motion mechanisms, though such asymmetries influence effectiveness.

Abstract

We present simultaneous optical, electrical, and thrust measurements of an aerodynamic plasma actuator. These measurements indicate that the plasma actuator is a form of the dielectric barrier discharge, whose behavior is governed primarily by the buildup of charge on the dielectric-encapsulated electrode. Our measurements reveal the temporal and macroscale spatial structure of the plasma. Correlating the morphology of the plasma and the electrical characteristics of the discharge to the actuator performance as measured by the thrust produced indicates a direct coupling between the interelectrode electric field (strongly modified by the presence of the plasma) and the charges in the plasma. Our measurements discount bulk heating or asymmetries in the structure of the discharge as mechanisms for the production of bulk motion of the surrounding neutral air, although such asymmetries clearly exist and impact the effectiveness of the actuator.