The SRS railgun

Journal Article · Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1988 · IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Transactions on Magnetics; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/20.22573· OSTI ID:5677208

Parker, J V ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)

A Segmented Rail Surface (SRS) structure is described that eliminates restrike arcs by progressively disconnecting segments of the rail surface after the plasma armature has passed. This technique has been demonstrated using the Los Alamos MIDI-2 railgun. Restrike was eliminated in a plasma armature acceleration experiment using metal-foil fuses as opening switches. A plasma velocity increase from 11 to 16 km/s was demonstrated using the SRS technique to eliminate the viscous drag losses associated with the restrike plasma. This technique appears to be a practical option for a laboratory launcher at present and for future multi-shot launchers if appropriate switches can be developed.

• OSTI ID: 5677208
• Journal Information: IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Transactions on Magnetics; (USA), Journal Name: IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Transactions on Magnetics; (USA) Vol. 25:1; ISSN IEMGA; ISSN 0018-9464
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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