Plasma Acceleration in Pulsed Ablative Arc Discharges.
Abstract
This program was an effort to describe and understand plasma acceleration processes in pulsed ablative plasma accelerators using a continuum MHD approach as the basis for analytic modeling. Concurrent with analytic modeling, an experimental diagnostic effort was performed so that calculated results could be compared to the measured parameters for verfication of the model. Diagnostic measurements included magnetic flux density using small coil probes, current distribution using a Rogowski coil plasma front location and velocity using time of arrival probes, high speed photography using a high speed framing camera, and electron number density and temperature using Langmuir probes. Data was recorded on a digital memory oscilloscope. An unsteady two-dimensional model of the plasma motion was postulated. The model included direct coupling of the external capacitor discharge circuit to the plasma via the time variant plasma resistance and inductance. Ablated (depolymerized) solid propellant appears to be dissociated and ionized very quickly with respect to the duration of the discharge. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA039219
Entities
People
- Dominic J. Palumbo
- Martin Begun