Acceleration of Plasma in Coaxial Channels with Preshaped Electrodes and Longitudinal Magnetic Field

Abstract

The paper presents a mathematical model and results of numerical simulation of axisymmetric plasma flows in nozzle-type channels formed by two coaxial electrodes. Transonic accelerated flows, which are of interest for the development of plasma accelerators, are considered. The mathematical apparatus of the models are two-dimensional MHD problems solved numerically, the steady-state solutions of which are obtained in the process of relaxation. Some characteristics of the flow in narrow tubes between close trajectories are considered in the quasi-one-dimensional approximation. The main attention is paid to the influence of the longitudinal magnetic field and the curvilinear geometry of the electrodes on the properties of accelerated flows.