The LRT/TUM small caliber electrothermal accelerator

Author

Rott, M.

Author_Institution

Lehrstuhl fuer Raumfahrttech., Tech. Univ. Munchen, Germany

Volume

29

Issue

1

fYear

1993

fDate

1/1/1993 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

597

Lastpage

602

Abstract

A small electrothermal particle accelerator has been developed for the purpose of simulating micrometeoroid and space debris impacts. The test range with the energy storage system, the experimental setup with all diagnostics, and the configuration of the accelerator are described. Emphasis is placed on the design of the discharge chamber. Experimental results for two designs and various geometries of the chamber are presented. The maximum particle velocity obtained is 5.2 km/s for a projectile with a mass of 28 mg

Keywords

aerospace test facilities; artificial satellites; capacitor storage; electromagnetic launchers; meteoroids; particle accelerators; plasma guns; plasma heating; pollution; space vehicles; test facilities; LRT/TUM; Technical University of Munich; chamber geometry; discharge chamber; electrothermal particle accelerator; energy storage system; experimental setup; mass; meteoroid; micrometeoroid impact; particle velocity; projectile; small caliber electrothermal accelerator; space debris impacts; space vehicle test facility; test range; Acceleration; Electrothermal effects; Energy storage; Geometry; Life estimation; Light rail systems; Linear particle accelerator; Particle accelerators; Space debris; System testing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.195643

Filename

195643