Magnetic Field Annihilation of Impulsive Current Sheets.
Abstract
This report reviews the progress made in experimental studies of impulsively accelerated plasmas. All of the accelerators studied have been pulsed inductive devices. The first type used the pressure of a parallel magnetic field, confined behind a fairly diamagnetic plasma current sheet, to produce acceleration. At 1500 seconds I sub sp, efficiencies of 5 and 18% were obtained without and with preionization, respectively. Much higher efficiencies with this accelerator type do not appear to be possible on a scale compatible with a practical thruster because of the inherently limited plasma conductivity. The second type of accelerator investigated used two magnetic field components. One is parallel to the current sheet, and is used to drive the plasma current by magnetic field annihilation, and the other is orthogonal to the current.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1975
- Accession Number
- ADA008846
Entities
People
- C. Lee Dailey
Organizations
- TRW Inc.