Experimental Study of a Surface DBD Actuator Supplied by an Atypical Nanosecond Rising High-Voltage Pulse

This paper presents experimental studies of a surface discharge of an aerodynamic actuator produced by a high-voltage pulse with a nanosecond rise time and a millisecond decrease time. Time-resolved imaging of the plasma and interferometric imaging of the shock wave generated by a unique nanosecond ramp were performed. Interferometry enabled shock fronts to be visualized with a 1 μs time resolution and to experimentally deduce for the first time the associated overpressure values. The interaction of the shock wave with the ionic wind generated during consecutive millisecond-scale voltage decay is also reported from phase-averaged laser Doppler velocimetry measurements. The observed phenomena were correlated with time-resolved images of the plasma developing at the dielectric surface during discharge phases.