Experimental observations of plasma armature properties and characteristics [in railguns]

Author

Baker, Mary C. ; Barrett, Byron D. ; Nunnally, W.C.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. Eng., Texas Tech. Univ., Lubbock, TX, USA

Volume

27

Issue

1

fYear

1991

fDate

1/1/1991 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

299

Lastpage

303

Abstract

The RGS-II railgun simulator has operated for over two years with the goals of developing diagnostic techniques for railgun plasmas and using the experiment as a testbed to study the behavior of high current plasma armatures. Over the course of the research, a series of diagnostic techniques were used, including B-dot and fiber-optic probes, laser transmission measurements, interferometry, and spectroscopy. These techniques were used to observe the plasma behavior under varying conditions of chamber pressure, arc current, and arc initiation mechanisms. The experimental techniques and results are described

Keywords

arcs (electric); electromagnetic launchers; fibre optic sensors; plasma devices; plasma diagnostics by laser beam; B-dot; B-dot probes; EM launchers; RGS-II; arc; diagnostic techniques; fiber-optic probes; interferometry; laser transmission measurements; plasma armature; railguns; research; simulator; spectroscopy; testbed; Fiber lasers; Interferometry; Optical fiber testing; Plasma diagnostics; Plasma measurements; Plasma properties; Plasma simulation; Probes; Railguns; Spectroscopy;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.101044

Filename

101044