Aerodynamic flow acceleration using paraelectric and peristaltic electrohydrodynamic effects of a One Atmosphere Uniform Glow Discharge Plasma

Abstract

The development of the One Atmosphere Uniform Glow Discharge Plasma has made it possible to cover the wings and fuselage of aircraft with a thin layer of glow discharge plasma at low energy cost. This plasma layer provides, through Lorentzian collisions, a purely electrohydrodynamic coupling between an electric field and the neutral gas in the boundary layer. This coupling is strong enough to cause aerodynamically significant acceleration and manipulation of the boundary layer and free stream flow, including re-attachment of flow to an airfoil at high angles of attack, and the peristaltic induction of neutral gas flow by a traveling electrostatic wave on the surface of a flat plate.