Transient Behavior of Magnetohydrodynamic Power-Generating Plasma

We present the structure of a nonequilibrium cesium-seeded argon (Ar-Cs) plasma in a closed-cycle magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) electrical power generator driven by a shock-tunnel facility. The transitional behavior from an inflow phase to an MHD phase is visualized. In the inflow phase, the high-temperature Ar-Cs gas produced by shock-wave heating flows in a supersonic channel. In the MHD phase, the plasma is self-organized by MHD effects. At the same time, the enthalpy of a flow is extracted in the form of electricity via the MHD effects.