MAGNETIC INSULATION EXPERIMENTS WITH A TRAVELING MAGNETIC PISTON PLASMA ACCELERATOR
Abstract
Further experimental work on a traveling magnetic piston plasma accelerator is reported. This accelerator produces a shock wave traveling at 110,000,000 cm/sec. Since the effective length of the piston is of the same order as the ideal length of uniform plasma, the plasma will expand to fill the tube cross section when the piston stops; this will produce a non-uniform slug even if there is no loss of plasma. In an attempt to inhibit the flow to the boundary layer, a uniform axial magnetic field was put on the shock tube. This applied magnetic field also alters the piston as well as the plasma leakage through the piston. The data indicate that for certain orientations and strengths of axial magnetic field, the attenuation of shock wave velocity beyond the exit of the accelerator is markedly reduced.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 08, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0407339
Entities
People
- Glenn C. Light
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation