Plasma analysis of a large-bore, arc-driven railgun
- 1 January 1989
- journal article
- Published by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in IEEE Transactions on Magnetics
- Vol. 25 (1) , 448-453
- https://doi.org/10.1109/20.22580
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
This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit:
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- A time-dependent model for railgun plasma armaturesPhysics of Fluids, 1988
- Momentum equation for arc-driven rail gunsJournal of Applied Physics, 1984
- Plasma dynamics of an arc-driven, electromagnetic, projectile acceleratorJournal of Applied Physics, 1981