Near-Surface Plasma-Magnetohydrodynamic Control of a High-Speed Model in Xenon

The study demonstrates the feasibility of controlling a high-speed flow through the combined action of gas-discharge plasma generated by the current from the external source and an external magnetic field in the frontal near-surface region of an aerodynamic body. Flow control is based on the generation of a Lorentz force in this region and changing its value and direction. The studies were conducted by experimental and numerical methods at a freestream Mach number of [Formula: see text] for xenon. The parameters of the plasma-magnetohydrodynamic action were obtained, ensuring good agreement between the numerical and experimental data. It is shown that the Lorentz force directed toward the body decreases density and elevates pressure and temperature in the plasma zone, causing an increase in the steady bow-shock-wave stand-off distance. It is also shown that the Lorentz force directed from the body, conversely, contributes to a reduction in this distance. It is shown that an external magnetic field can increase the relative bow shock stand-off (created solely by the gas discharge) by up to 3.4 times and decrease it by up to 3.3 times. The obtained results may be useful for the development of control systems for high-speed flows founded on the action of plasma and electric and magnetic fields.