Accession Number:

AD0258350

Title:

ON THE LIMITING VELOCITY FOR A ROTATING PLASMA

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

AVCO EVERETT RESEARCH LAB EVERETT MASS

Personal Author(s):

• LIN,SHAO-CHI

Report Date:

1961-04-01

Pagination or Media Count:

1.0

Abstract:

A quasi-steady state solution was obtained for a homogenous plasma undergoing simultaneous ionization and rotation in a crossed electricmagnetic field. It was found that the ordinary electron-impact ionization process, when supported by the Landau ion-electron heat transfer mechanism, will be sufficiently rapid to provide a close coupling between the kinetic energy of the ions and the ionization energy of the neutrals under a wide range of conditions. The results can be used to interpret the limiting velocity observed by Alfven Rev. Mod. Phys. 32710 1960 and Fahleson Phys. of Fluids 4123 1961 in some recent rotating plasma experiments. The same results can also be used to predict the occurrence of similar limiting velocity in some rectilinear plasma accelerators. Author

Descriptors:

• *MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
• *PLASMAS(PHYSICS)
• *VELOCITY
• EOSINOPHILS
• GAS IONIZATION
• HEAT TRANSFER
• ION ENGINES
• MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS
• MOTION
• PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
• ROTATION

Subject Categories:

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE