Railgun performance with a two-stage light-gas gun injector

Results obtained with the HELEOS (hypervelocity experimental launcher for equation of state) railgun, which uses a two-stage light-gas gun (2SLGG) as an injector, are presented. The high-velocity 2SLGG injector preaccelerates projectiles up to approximately 7 km/s. The high injection velocity reduce...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE Transactions on Magnetics (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States) 1991-01, Vol.27 (1), p.28-32
Main Authors: Hawke, R.S., Susoeff, A.R., Asay, J.R., Ang, J.A., Hall, C.A., Konrad, C.H., Wellman, G.W., Hickman, R.J., Heath, W.A., Martinez, J.R., Sauve, J.L., Vasey, A.R., Shahinpoor, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
430303 - Particle Accelerators- Experimental Facilities & Equipment
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700460 - Fusion Technology- Heating & Fueling Systems
ACCELERATION
ACCELERATOR FACILITIES
ACCELERATORS
ELEMENTS
Fuels-
Gas insulation
HIGH PRESSURE
HYDROGEN
Laboratories
NONMETALS
PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
Performance evaluation
PLASMA ACCELERATION
PLASMA GUNS
Plasma temperature
PROJECTILES
RAILGUN ACCELERATORS
Railguns
Rails
Testing
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Summary:Results obtained with the HELEOS (hypervelocity experimental launcher for equation of state) railgun, which uses a two-stage light-gas gun (2SLGG) as an injector, are presented. The high-velocity 2SLGG injector preaccelerates projectiles up to approximately 7 km/s. The high injection velocity reduces the exposure duration of the railgun barrel to the passing high temperature plasma armature, thereby reducing the ablation and subsequent armature growth. The 2SLGG also provides a column of cool, high-pressure hydrogen gas to insulate the rails behind the projectile, thereby eliminating restrike. A means to form an armature behind the injected projectile has been developed. In preliminary tests, the third-stage railgun has successfully increased the projectile velocity by 1.35 km/s. Extensive diagnostics have been used to determine the behavior of the armature and track the launcher's performance. Insome cases, velocity increases in the railgun section have been achieved, which are in close agreement with theoretical predictions, whereas in other experiments deviations from theoretical have been observed. The reasons for and implications of these results are addressed. Recent tests are reported.< >
ISSN:0018-9464
1941-0069
DOI:10.1109/20.100988