PROGRESS REPORT ON RAIL GUN STUDIES , MARCH 1959-SEPTEMBER 1, 1959

Technical Report · Thu Oct 31 00:00:00 EST 1963

OSTI ID:4728545

Bostick, W H

Previous research with rail guns is reviewed. Experiments indicated that curved rails confined plasma better than parallel plates or wires. The signals in some experiments indicated the presence of electrons rather than plasma, but acceleration of plasma with rail type equipment was achieved. During the period a second rail gun system that permits automatic or manual rail charging was placed in operation. One end of the rails was connected to the vacuum system while the other was connected to a lucite block. The arrangement is shown. Tests showed that variation of rail length had no effect on the Paschen curves relating length to breakdown voltage and pressure. The length and position of the discharge was somewhat dependent on gas pressure in the rails. Techniques developed for measuring plasma acceleration established only an average velocity for the conducting element of 7.2 plus or minus 2 x 10/sup 5/ cm/sec. Various types of probes were used to examine the properties of the discharge material. Results from flat disc probe tests indicate the propagating medium to be a negatively charged medium with an excess of electrons, not a plasma. The shape of signals (displayed) from electric probes yielded the same conclusion, but a magnetic probe gave evidence for a plasma. An unsuccessful attempt was made to accelerate plasma injected by button guns. Measurements were made with Kerr cell photography and photocell arrangements. Time of flight and microwave Doppler shift measurements of the velocity agreed well. Some components for an acceleration arrangement using a button gun for a plasma source and a magnetic funnel for acceleration were completed. Low inductance switches for the fast 100,000 joule capacitor bank were tested, and a safety control system was added. Data and schematics of apparatus are presented. (D.C.W.)

• Research Organization: Stevens Inst. of TEch., Hoboken, N.J.
• DOE Contract Number: AT(30-1)-1921
• NSA Number: NSA-17-019464
• OSTI ID: 4728545
• Report Number(s): TID-18439
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-63
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

PHYSICS
BEAMS
BREAKDOWN
CAPACITORS
CONFIGURATION
CONFINEMENT
CONTROL
DIAGRAMS
ELECTRIC CHARGES
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRONS
GASES
INJECTION
INSTRUMENTS
KERR CELLS
LIGHT
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MEASURED VALUES
MICROWAVES
MODULATION
OPERATION
PASCHEN CURVE
PERFORMANCE
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOGRAPHY
PLASMA
PLATES
PLEXIGLAS
POLARIZATION
POLYMERS
PRESSURE
PROBES
REFRACTION
SAFETY
SIGNALS
SPECTRAL SHIFT
STORAGE
SWITCHES
TESTING
VACUUM
VARIATIONS
VELOCITY
WIRES