A magnetically driven DC surface plasma discharge has shown promise for supersonic boundary layer control. Previous experiments in supersonic flow performed using this plasma actuator have shown significant control over the shockwaveturbulent boundary layer interaction region. In this study, the velocity of the surface jet in quiescent air is measured and compared with predictions. A time gated schlieren technique is used to visualize the jet and determine the velocity. The surface plasma

more »

... appears as a transverse "arc" between two slightly diverging electrodes and is driven by j x B forces so that it sweeps the neutral gas near the surface creating a surface jet.The jet velocity generated by the magneto-gas dynamic actuator is measured in a 1 Tesla magnetic field at different actuation currents below 100mA in air at pressures in the range of 100 -400 Torr  Graduate student, Student Member AIAA § Research Scientist, Member AIAA ‡ Professor, Fellow AIAA M 48th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting