An empirical model for plasma armature voltage [in EM launchers]

Author

Parker, Jerald V.

Author_Institution

Los Alamos Nat. Lab., NM, USA

Volume

27

Issue

1

fYear

1991

fDate

1/1/1991 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

283

Lastpage

288

Abstract

Scaling of armature voltage with bore diameter is an important issue, since it affects the predicted efficiency and the predicted velocity performance of proposed large-bore electromagnetic launchers. The experimental data for railguns with plastic/composite insulation is shown to fit a scaling relation of the form V_m=V_e+E(j)d, where V_m is the muzzle voltage, V_e is the total electrode drop, and the electric field dependence on current density is given by E(j)=E₀+j/σ. This scaling relation predicts a linear increase in armature voltage with bore diameter for d>0.1 m. The model is in better agreement with the limited data on large-bore railguns than earlier models

Keywords

composite materials; electromagnetic launchers; insulation; plasma devices; plastics; EM launchers; bore diameter; current density; efficiency; electric field; empirical model; muzzle voltage; plasma armature voltage; plastic/composite insulation; railguns; scaling; total electrode drop; velocity; Boring; Current density; Electrodes; Laboratories; Physics; Plasma density; Plasma materials processing; Plasma measurements; Railguns; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.101041

Filename

101041