Celiberto, R;
Armenise, I;
Cacciatore, M;
Capitelli, M;
Esposito, F;
Gamallo, P;
Janev, RK;
... Wadehra, JM; + view all
(2016)
Atomic and molecular data for spacecraft re-entry plasmas.
Plasma Sources Science and Technology
, 25
(3)
, Article 033004. 10.1088/0963-0252/25/3/033004.
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Abstract
The modeling of atmospheric gas, interacting with the space vehicles in re-entry conditions in planetary exploration missions, requires a large set of scattering data for all those elementary processes occurring in the system. A fundamental aspect of re-entry problems is represented by the strong non-equilibrium conditions met in the atmospheric plasma close to the surface of the thermal shield, where numerous interconnected relaxation processes determine the evolution of the gaseous system towards equilibrium conditions. A central role is played by the vibrational exchanges of energy, so that collisional processes involving vibrationally excited molecules assume a particular importance. In the present paper, theoretical calculations of complete sets of vibrationally state-resolved cross sections and rate coefficients are reviewed, focusing on the relevant classes of collisional processes: resonant and non-resonant electron-impact excitation of molecules, atom-diatom and molecule-molecule collisions as well as gas-surface interaction. In particular, collisional processes involving atomic and molecular species, relevant to Earth (N2, O2, NO), Mars (CO2, CO, N2) and Jupiter (H2, He) atmospheres are considered.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Atomic and molecular data for spacecraft re-entry plasmas |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1088/0963-0252/25/3/033004 |
| Publisher version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0963-0252/25/3/033004 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © 2016 IOP Publishing Ltd. This is an author-created, un-copyedited version of an article accepted for publication in Plasma Sources Science and Technology. The publisher is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from it. The Version of Record is available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0963-0252/25/3/033004 |
| Keywords: | elementary processes, excited states, non-equilibrium plasmas |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Physics and Astronomy |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1498980 |
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