Prevention of breakdown behind railgun projectiles
An electromagnetic railgun accelerator system, for accelerating projectiles by a plasma arc, introduces a breakdown inhibiting gas into the railgun chamber behind the accelerating projectile. The breakdown inhibiting gas, which absorbs electrons, is a halide or a halide compound such as fluorine or SF{sub 6}. The gas is introduced between the railgun rails after the projectile has passed through inlets in the rails or the projectile; by coating the rails or the projectile with a material which releases the gas after the projectile passes over it; by fabricating the rails or the projectile or insulators out of a material which releases the gas into the portions of the chamber through which the projectile has traveled. The projectile may have a cavity at its rear to control the release of ablation products. 9 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/DP
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy
- Patent Number(s):
- PATENTS-US-A7341019
- Application Number:
- ON: DE90014573; PPN: US 7-341019
- OSTI ID:
- 6706809
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Prevention of breakdown behind railgun projectiles
Prevention of breakdown behind railgun projectiles