Ionization kinetic model for Hydrogen-Helium atmospheres in hypersonic shock tubes

A state-to-state self-consistent model of the Hydrogen-Helium mixture has been applied to investigate the ionization kinetics during the entry of a capsule in the atmosphere of a gaseous giant planet. The kinetic model has been coupled with the 1D shock tube code to compare theoretical results with the measurements obtained in the EAST facility at NASA-AMES. The alternate path to ionization proposed results in a more efficient production of electrons, in agreement with the experiments. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.