High energy railgun designs

We have explored designs for electromagnetic launchers capable of accelerating large masses to hypervelocity. In examining segmented railgun designs we have identified several important considerations. Among these are: a) acceleration changes at segmentation points due to the effects of force pick-up, opening switch risetime and current feed geometry, b) opening switches with pulse compressions of 10²and 10³, and c) relations which determine sizing of segements and magnetic energy stores. In addition, we will discuss the relative merits of inverse railgun pulse generators (flux compressors) and HPG´s for charging magnetic stores.