Aerospace Engineering Commons^™

Carbon Monoxide Measurements In A Co2 Plasma Using Two-Photon Laser Induced Fluorescence, Brandon Voll

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Uncertainties in surface catalytic reaction rates in a CO2 plasma have led to overdesign of thermal protection systems, which has caused planetary entry vehicles for the Martian atmosphere to be heavier than necessary. This, in turn, has decreased the available payload of various missions. A better understanding of these reaction rates will allow more precise development of thermal protection systems leading to safer and more effective atmospheric entry vehicles. Near wall measurements in a plasma facility using laser spectroscopic techniques with sub-millimeter spatial resolution provide a method to determine surface-catalyzed reaction efficiencies over metallic surfaces. The present work includes laser …