Low voltage arc formation in railguns
A low voltage plasma arc is first established across the rails behind the projectile by switching a low voltage high current source across the rails to establish a plasma arc by vaporizing a fuse mounted on the back of the projectile, maintaining the voltage across the rails below the railgun breakdown voltage to prevent arc formation ahead of the projectile. After the plasma arc has been formed behind the projectile a discriminator switches the full energy bank across the rails to accelerate the projectile. A gas gun injector may be utilized to inject a projectile into the breech of a railgun. The invention permits the use of a gas gun or gun powder injector and an evacuated barrel without the risk of spurious arc formation in front of the projectile.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy
- Application Number:
- ON: DE86013683
- OSTI ID:
- 5389938
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
RAILGUN ACCELERATORS
ELECTRIC ARCS
CAPACITORS
DESIGN
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
PROJECTILES
SWITCHING CIRCUITS
ACCELERATORS
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
420200* - Engineering- Facilities
Equipment
& Techniques
420800 - Engineering- Electronic Circuits & Devices- (-1989)