Plasma-surface interactions in electric launchers: progress on the TURBFIRE code

Summary form only given. Plasma-surface interactions are of great interest for the design and modeling of electric launchers. We are developing a 2-D boundary layer code, which includes turbulence and radiation transport, to predict mass evolution rates at plasma surface interfaces. The TURBFIRE code will aid in the understanding of vapor shielding and the effects of turbulence on energy transport to the surface. It has been previously shown that absorption of radiation is the dominant mechanism of heating and ablating plasma-facing components, and that conduction is small. Experimental results suggest that turbulence enhances radiation transport through the turbulent mixing of hot outer fluid with the cooler fluid near the surface. Previous models have not combined radiant energy transport with turbulent convection in a self-consistent manner.