Interview with Jean-Pierre PETIT in Prague June 2012 ( Part 1/3 )

An interview with Jean-Pierre Petit, recorded in Prague ( june 2012). Talk about French MHD study and work progress of reseach in Lambda Laboratory ( www.lambda-laboratory.fr).

Jean-Pierre Petit is a French scientist, senior researcher at National Scientific Research Center (CNRS) now retired. Gratuated from Supaero (French National Higher School of Aeronautics and Space) in 1961, Sc.D. in 1972, he is astrophysicist, fluid mechanician, plasma physicist, magnetohydrodynamics specialist. His carrier in the field of MHD is well-know: 1st method of eletrothermal instability control and 1st usable MHD generator with non-equilibrium ionized gas (1967); kinetic theory of non-equilibrium plasmas (1972); MHD aerodynes with ionization control (1975); Shock wave cancellation by MHD force field around a cylindrical profile imbedded in a liquid flow (1976); 2nd method of electrothermal instability control by magnetic pressure gradient in an MHD accelerator (1981); Thesis director about shock wave annihilation around a flat wing in a hot supersonic gas flow: Resolution of Navier-Stokes equations within an MHD force field by the method of characteristics (1987).

Studies at λ currently cover low density experiments of magnetized non-thermal plasmas2 (MHD accelerators with various shapes, ionizers, streamer guidance and plasma wall-confinement systems).

Interesting fields of this activity relate to air-breathing MHD propulsion with flow control by Lorentz force field. This implies mastering the electrothermal instability3 through magnetic gradient inversion systems. MHD applications to aerodynamics, sometimes called magnetoplasma-aerodynamics or magnetoaerodynamics, are aimed to enable hypersonic flight by controlling heat transfer:4 MHD bypass systems on hypersonic waveriders, MHD-controlled inlets, wide high voltage cushion-discharges on leading edges, external-flow MHD accelerators, shock wave cancellation, etc.

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