Simulation of the Interaction Between Two Counterflowing Rarefied Jets

A preliminary analysis of the flow between a jet of argon plasma and one containing argon excited states is conducted using the direct simulation Monte Carlo method (DSMC). As a prelude to the use of more advanced models and to help design the accompanying experiment, a simplified model is formulated that ignores electron kinetics and field effects. This model allows the capture of most of the gas dynamics phenomena present with a standard DSMC code. Two interaction criteria are then used and compared to analyze the flow pattern of the interaction. An increase in the mass flow rate of the neutral jet is found to increase the level of interaction between the jets.