Multiple stage railgun
A multiple stage magnetic railgun accelerator for accelerating a projectile by movement of a plasma arc along the rails. The railgun is divided into a plurality of successive rail stages which are sequentially energized by separate energy sources as the projectile moves through the bore of the railgun. Propagation of energy from an energized rail stage back towards the breech end of the railgun can be prevented by connection of the energy sources to the rails through isolation diodes. Propagation of energy from an energized rail stage back towards the breech end of the railgun can also be prevented by dividing the rails into electrically isolated rail sections. In such case means are used to extinguish the arc at the end of each energized stage and a fuse or laser device is used to initiate a new plasma arc in the next energized rail stage.
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4343223
- OSTI ID:
- 6521295
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
700209* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Component Development & Materials Testing
ACCELERATION
ACCELERATORS
DESIGN
DETONATORS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY STORAGE
FUSES
LASERS
MAGNETISM
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PROJECTILES
RAILGUN ACCELERATORS
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES
STORAGE
THERMONUCLEAR REACTIONS