No abstract

A laser driven inductively coupled plasma generator was developed. Firstly, the radio frequency (RF) of 13.56 MHz was applied to the atmospheric argon laser sustained plasma (LSP) in a quartz tube. As a result, the RF was successfully coupled to the LSP and following expansion of an emission region was observed. Next, the LSP was produced ahead of a ceramic convergent-divergent nozzle throat and the RF was applied from outside of the nozzle. The thermal efficiency estimated by a sonic flow method was ranged from 26 % to 13 %.