When
Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
Felipe Rodriguez Fuentes
PhD Candidate and Graduate Researcher
The University of Arizona
"Modeling and Controlling Plasma Density in Hypersonic Flows"
AME Lecture Hall, Room S202 | Zoom link
Abstract: Accurate computational modeling of plasmas is essential for evaluating strategies to control the plasma layer surrounding hypersonic vehicles, in particular reducing the plasma density to mitigate radio-frequency blackout during re-entry. Predicting plasma density with CFD is challenging because of multi-temperature energy relaxation mechanisms, complex chemistry and non-neutral charge effects near solid boundaries. Aiming for improved plasma density predictions, we developed two new physical models for electron cooling and heating with a thermodynamically consistent closure. Using these newly developed models, we present the first fully coupled simulations studying the effect of a pulsed electric field on a re-entry plasma layer. This offers a promising solution for the decades-long problem of hypersonic radio blackout caused by the formation of a thick plasma near the vehicle surface.
Bio: Rodriguez Fuentes is a PhD candidate and graduate researcher at The University of Arizona working in plasma CFD simulations as part of the Computational Plasma and Reacting Flow Laboratory. During his time as a graduate student, Felipe completed internships with Tokyo Electron America studying computational modelling of plasma-enhanced thin film processing in semiconductor manufacturing. Felipe holds BS and MS degrees in aerospace engineering from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Spain) and a ME degree in aerospace systems from The University of Arizona.