Characteristics of electric discharge transmission under conditions of boundary layer control in supersonic flow of an ionized gas

Shock tube experiments have been carried out to investigate the mechanisms by which gas injection affects contracted electric current in a supersonic plasma flow. It is found that the injection of a gas (argon) contributes to boundary layer turbulence, which in turn facilitates the transition from arc to microarc discharge. Electrode losses during injection are reduced by boundary layer suction. The results obtained demonstrate the possibility of controlling electrode wall current transmission in a supersonic MHD channel through gas injection and suction.