Welcome to the Plasma Test and Diagnostics Laboratory.
Advancements in high-performance material development for thermal protection systems used during high-speed flight is an enabling technology for future reentry vehicles and hypersonic aircraft. Progressing the understanding of how these materials behave in harsh thermal environments require improved test methods and techniques. Our objective is to develop improved material and gas dynamic testing capabilities in contaminant-free inductively coupled plasmas that correspond to real flight conditions. The UVM 30 kW ICP Torch Facility has been constructed to establish these high enthalpy contaminant free environments. A significant component of the advanced testing capability is the implementation of advanced gas-phase laser diagnostics and traditional instrumentation to provide quantitative information about the important gas-material interactions that lead to material degradation. Our work is constantly evolving to meet future testing needs of agencies such as NASA and Air Force Research Laboratories. The work we do is made possible by the support and effort from the following sponsors and collaborators:
