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Modeling of composition changes in Titan atmospheric entry plasma

POSTER

Abstract

The Huygens mission to Titan showed us a great deal of interesting things about the atmosphere of Titan. During the atmospheric entry phase for the lander, most of the kinetic energy of the probe was lost in the form of thermal ionization of the atmosphere, i.e. a plasma is formed around the probe during entry. In this presentation we will describe the chemical composition, temperature, and pressures of the atmosphere at different altitudes. We will then show a basic gas kinetic model to determine how the composition changes during the thermal ionization process.

Authors

  • Nya Lampkin

    Valdosta State University

  • Peter Schauss

    University of Notre Dame, Los Alamos National Laboratory, North Carolina State University, University of Notre dame, Columbia University, Mississippi State Univ, University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Puerto Rico at Humacao, JLAB, MIT, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Florida State University, NHMFL, University College Dublin, Department of Physics, Florida State University; National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, CNR-Instituto Nanoscienze, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Nanotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Florida State University, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Physics, Birmingham, AL 35294-1170,USA, Department of Chemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Francis Marion University, University of Richmond, Valdosta State University, University of Pittsburgh, Fermi National Lab, university of minnesota, Univ of Virginia, Joint Quantum Institute, University of Maryland, Georgetown University, IonQ Inc.

  • Nya Lampkin

    Valdosta State University