Plasma analysis of a large-bore, arc-driven railgun

Author

Powell, John D.

Author_Institution

US Army Ballistic Res. Lab., Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, USA

Volume

25

Issue

1

fYear

1989

fDate

1/1/1989 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

448

Lastpage

453

Abstract

Some recent experimental data obtained from the large-bore railgun CHECMATE are analyzed to determine the electrodynamic and thermodynamic properties of the plasma armature. Experimental values of the arc length and muzzle voltage, as well as an experimentally fitted current-density profile, are used in the analysis. With these data used as input, model calculations are undertaken to determine the remaining properties of the arc. Results of the data analysis are ten compared with some purely theoretical calculations, and possible reasons for the differences are noted and discussed. Among other findings it appears that thetotal mass of the arc remains nearly constant over the acceleration time

Keywords

arcs (electric); current density; electromagnetic launchers; plasma diagnostic techniques; plasma guns; CHECMATE; acceleration time; arc length; arc-driven railgun; current-density profile; data analysis; electrodynamic properties; large-bore railgun; model calculations; muzzle voltage; plasma analysis; plasma armature; thermodynamic properties; total mass; Current measurement; Data analysis; Laboratories; Plasma measurements; Plasma properties; Plasma temperature; Projectiles; Railguns; Rails; Scattering;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.22580

Filename

22580