Seminar - Plasma Tunnels for Hypersonics: The University of Colorado Magnetoaerodynamics and Aerospace Plasmas Laboratory - Jan. 23
Hisham Ali
Assistant Professor, Smead Aerospace
Friday, Jan. 23 | 10:40 A.M. | AERO 114
Abstract: This seminar will cover an overview of current and future research objectives as well as several newly commissioned plasma tunnels for hypersonic applications in the Magnetoaerodynamics and Aerospace Plasmas Laboratory at the University of Colorado Boulder, directed by Assistant Professor Hisham Ali.Ìý
The laboratory specializes in studying the physics of aerospace plasmas and related applications, such as hypersonics. Key laboratory capabilities include several unique radio-frequency (RF) inductively coupled plasma (ICP) tunnel facilities designed and built within the laboratory, spanning a range of input power levels up to 40kW.Ìý
The facilities produce high-temperature supersonic ionized plasma flows to simulate plasmas formed during high altitude hypersonic flight, featuring two table-top scale up to 5kW tunnels and two larger scale up to 40kW facilities, with full operation of the larger 40kW main facilities achieved in late 2025 after an over three-year facility design, building renovation, and equipment integration effort. The larger scale main plasma tunnel facilities are driven by water-cooled RF ICP torches operating at 40kW and 13.56MHz. In the context of RF ICP tunnels for hypersonics, the combination of up to 40kW input power and relatively high 13.56MHz frequency enable generation of chemically pure, high enthalpy flows with relatively high ionization levels. These RF ICP sources are then coupled to converging diverging nozzles and water-cooled 1.5m x 1.5m vacuum chambers evacuated by a shared large capacity mechanical vacuum pumping system, with a base pressure of 10-4 mbar and maximum volumetric pumping speed exceeding 20,000 m3/hr. ÌýThe resulting plasma jet discharge into the test vacuum chamber is a continuous supersonic plasma tunnel ground test facility simulating an ionized hypersonic plasma free-stream at high-altitude (low base pressure), with temperatures exceeding several thousand degrees K. The laboratory power supply, water-cooling, and vacuum systems are designed such that all plasma tunnels can run simultaneously to enable higher testing throughput, a unique capability.Ìý
Overall, the facility is one of less than five such high power inductively coupled plasma tunnel facilities in US academia, and its uniquely high vacuum pumping capacity is capable of maintaining lower chamber base pressures for simulating high altitude hypersonic flight environments while also featuring a control system to increase base pressure for simulating lower altitudes. The laboratory includes access for various plasma, fluid, and thermal diagnostics to facilitate hypersonics experimental investigations with a unique focus on magnetohydrodynamics for hypersonics and aerospace plasmas—magnetoaerodynamics.
Bio: Hisham is an Assistant Professor in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at The University of Colorado Boulder and the director of the Magnetoaerodynamics and Aerospace Plasmas Laboratory. In addition, Hisham is concurrently affiliated as a part-time casual Member of Technical Staff at The Aerospace Corporation Colorado Springs, a Federally Funded Research and Development Center for the United States Space Enterprise. Hisham earned a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering with minors in Mathematics and Computer Based Honors from The University of Alabama in May 2013 and earned his Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in May 2015 and August 2019, respectively. Hisham’s current research interests are in magnetohydrodynamics, hypersonics, plasma physics, and planetary entry systems.