Investigation of a Rail Electromagnetic Plasma Jet Source

Abstract

We report the results of investigation of elements of a rail-type electromagnetic accelerator (railgun), which are aimed at analysis of the mechanism of formation of a dense clean plasma jet with a high kinetic energy. The accelerator is tested with a pulsed gas puffing and with electrodes of different shapes and lengths, as well as an additional magnetic field produced by external current-carrying conductors. We have developed a method for monitoring plasma jet parameters on a plasma gun test bench using a pressure sensor and an infrared camera. We have analyzed the dependence of deuterium plasma jet pressure on the distance to the accelerator and estimated kinetic energy of the jet.