PLASMA ACCELERATION WITH COAXIAL ELECTRODES
The acceleration of a plasma by a capacitor discharge between coaxial electrodes is investigated theoretically and experimentally. Simultaneous differential equations are written for two cases, in which the electrodes are used in a shock tube having a uniform gas distribution for a simple snowplow'' model of plasma motion; or the electrodes are used to accelerate a constant mass of plasma into a vacuum. The equations are solved by analog computer for the plasma displacement, velocity, acceleration, the current and its derivatives, and various power terms, as functions of time. For the first case, plasma velocities and displacements, measured from streak photographs for several experimental arrangements, compare favorably with computer-predicted velocities until the peak venlocity is attained. At this instant, which is the assumed limit of validity of the equations, a shock wave detaches from and moves ahead of the plasma disk. The actual current distribution in the space between the electrodes, as determined by a difference'' magnetic probe, is found to be rather complex, with current loops forming after the peak velocity is attained. Effects caused by a distributed current are discussed. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Lockheed Aircraft Corp. Missiles and Space Div., Sunnyvale, Calif.
- NSA Number:
- NSA-16-003764
- OSTI ID:
- 4830732
- Report Number(s):
- LMSD-894830; AD-257819
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ANALOG SYSTEMS
CAPACITORS
COILS
COMPUTERS
CONFIGURATION
CURRENTS
CYLINDERS
DENSITY
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRODES
GASES
INDUCTION
MASS
MEASURED VALUES
MOTION
PHOTOGRAPHY
PHYSICS
PLASMA
SCHLIEREN
SHOCK WAVES
SNOW PLOW MODEL
TUBES
VACUUM
VARIATIONS
VELOCITY