Accession Number:

ADA370410

Title:

Plasma Sound Source Basic Research

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. 1 Nov 93-30 Sep 97

Corporate Author:

TEXAS UNIV AT AUSTIN APPLIED RESEARCH LABS

Personal Author(s):

• Rogers, Robert L.
• Espinosa, James C.
• Fisher, David L.
• Gleeson, Austin M.

Report Date:

1999-07-01

Pagination or Media Count:

113.0

Abstract:

This report investigates the phenomena of breakdown and initial arc formation of a plasma sound source. The prebreakdown phase is examined experimentally. A proton-hopping model is proposed that is qualitatively consistent with the data. A literature review of the behavior of water near electrodes shows water having a regular, solid-like structure, permitting use of proton-hopping models to calculate specifics of ion transport in the electrode vicinity. A mechanism for obtaining the transition of the H ions to a high mobility state and shortcomings of electron-based breakdown models are discussed. Experimental data indicate that breakdown occurs from structures not strongly pressure dependent. An arc model finite difference one-dimensional is developed showing interior dynamics of the discharge and conversion of electrical energy to hydromechanical energy on the bubble, including radiative and conductive heat transport, particle transport, ionization, compressibility of the filling plasma, and the compressibility of the surrounding water. Some calculated results of this model are presented.

Descriptors:

• *PLASMAS(PHYSICS)
• *HYDROMECHANICS
• PROTONS
• ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY
• ELECTRONS
• DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
• ELECTRON ENERGY
• IONIZATION
• SEA WATER
• CONDUCTION(HEAT TRANSFER)
• BREAKDOWN(ELECTRONIC THRESHOLD)
• ION EXCHANGE
• ION ION INTERACTIONS
• WATER CHEMISTRY
• RADIANT HEATING
• UNDERWATER SOUND GENERATORS

Subject Categories:

• Plasma Physics and Magnetohydrodynamics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE