Magnetically Insulated Electron Flows in Pulsed Power Systems
Abstract
Magnetic insulation is crucial in the operation of large pulsed power systems. Particular attention will be paid to describing magnetic insulation in realistic pulsed power systems. A theoretical model is developed that allows one to produce self consistent magnetically insulated laminar flows in perturbed cylindrical systems given only the electron density profile. The theory is checked and justified by detailed comparisons with results from a 2-dimensional electromagnetic code--MASK. The procedure followed in the theoretical development is to use the relativistic Vlasov equation, Ampere's law and Gauss' law, to obtain a relation between the density profile and the velocity profile for insulated flows. Given the density profile and the corresponding derived velocity profile, a self consistent flow solution is obtained by means of maxwell's equations. It is checked by taking a special case - corresponding to no perturbations - which results in the well known Brillouin flow theory. Emphasis is placed on determining the magnetic insulation threshold of a pulsed power system employing a plasma erosion opening switch. The procedure employed in the computational study is to vary critical aspects of the pulsed power system and then note whether magnetic insulation breaks down. The point at which magnetic insulation breaks down - as a function of geometry, load impedance, and applied voltage - is the magnetic insulation threshold for the system. The computational technique used is a 2-dimensional electromagnetic particle in cell code.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA212746
Entities
People
- Robert I. Lawconnell
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory