Time‐dependent simulation of weakly nonideal plasmas in electrothermal launchers

Simulation of electrothermal launchers is extended to include nonideal plasma effects. The simulation is compared to experimental data obtained from the SIRENS facility, for the measurable quantity of ablation depth as a function of the input discharge energy [IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. P S ‐ 1 7, 386 (1989)]. The plasma model for nonideal plasma is based on the evaluation of a non‐Debye radius due to incomplete screening of the shielding cloud around a charged particle. The consistent and necessary transport and thermodynamic functions for weakly nonideal plasmas are included in the time‐dependent set of governing equations. In this paper a semiempirical scaling law for the fraction of blackbody radiation that is transmitted through the ablating vapor for Lexan insulators under high heat flux conditions is also presented.