Control of hypersonic boundary layer transition

A system that controls hypersonic boundary layer transition for a hypersonic vehicle, the system comprising:

• a surface of the hypersonic vehicle that is associated with spanwise locations of streaks that naturally develop in a downstream direction during hypersonic flight of the hypersonic vehicle, wherein the spanwise locations of the streaks are a consequence of nonlinear transition stages in a hypersonic boundary layer transition at a surface of the hypersonic vehicle;
• and
• a plurality of localized vortex generators provided in the spanwise direction which is perpendicular to the downstream direction, at locations that are near or downstream of an onset of nonlinear transition stages of the hypersonic boundary layer transition, wherein the vortex generators generate spanwise vortex modes in a boundary layer adjacent a wall of the hypersonic vehicle that interact nonlinearly with instability waves and the streaks such that nonlinear streak development is delayed or prevented, and growth of the streaks are delayed or prevented, during hypersonic flight of the hypersonic vehicle, wherein the delayed or prevented nonlinear streak development and growth of the streaks result in a delay or prevention in the hypersonic boundary layer transition to turbulence during the hypersonic flight of the hypersonic vehicle, and wherein the delay or prevention in the hypersonic boundary layer transition to turbulence controls hypersonic boundary layer transition of the boundary layer.