Secondary arcs in 2-D MHD numerical simulations of EML plasma armatures

Author

Boynton, G.C. ; Huerta, M.A.

Author_Institution

Sterrekundig Inst., Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht, Netherlands

Volume

31

Issue

1

fYear

1995

Firstpage

564

Lastpage

569

Abstract

We use a 2-D MHD FCT (flux corrected transport) code with Spitzer resistivity to simulate a rail launcher plasma armature. The energy equation includes Ohmic heating, radiation heat transport and the ideal gas equation of state, allowing for variable ionization using the Saha equations. We calculate rail ablation taking into account the flow of heat into the interior of the rails. We include skin drag in the turbulent boundary layer approximation. Our simulations show the development of secondary arcs and a buffer zone.<>

Keywords

arcs (electric); boundary layer turbulence; electromagnetic launchers; heat radiation; magnetic flux; numerical analysis; plasma boundary layers; plasma devices; plasma guns; plasma magnetohydrodynamics; plasma turbulence; simulation; 2-D MHD numerical simulations; EML plasma armatures; Ohmic heating; Saha equations; Spitzer resistivity; buffer zone; electromagnetic launchers; energy equation; flux corrected transport; heat flow; ideal gas equation of state; radiation heat transport; rail ablation; rail launcher plasma armature simulation; secondary arcs; skin drag; turbulent boundary layer approximation; variable ionization; Conductivity; Equations; Heating; Ionization; Ionizing radiation; Magnetohydrodynamics; Numerical simulation; Plasma simulation; Plasma transport processes; Rails;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.364632

Filename

364632