Accession Number:

ADA191929

Title:

Temperature Estimates for a Free Flowing Railgun Plasma,

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

MATERIALS RESEARCH LABS ASCOT VALE (AUSTRALIA)

Personal Author(s):

• Clark, G. A.
• Kowalenko, V.

Report Date:

1987-06-01

Pagination or Media Count:

49.0

Abstract:

In bore spectroscopic observations of a free-flowing plasma for wavelengths between 3000 A and 6250A were made for a series of railgun firings. In this report the experimental arrangement for the series is described and the results are presented. Atomic species present in the plasma are identified from absorption and emission spectra. Calculations of the degree of ionisation of these species are then used to produce a temperature estimate between 11,000 K to 25,000 K for the railgun plasma. A comparison of theoretical values of the plasma electrical conductivity with values obtained from muzzle voltage records indicates that the peak plasma temperature is approximately 11,000 K, which is consistent with estimates obtained from the spectra. Keywords Railgun accelerations Electromagnetic launchers Plasma, Spectra.

Descriptors:

• *HYPERVELOCITY GUNS
• *PLASMAS(PHYSICS)
• *TEMPERATURE
• *ELECTRIC GUNS
• ABSORPTION SPECTRA
• BORES
• ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY
• EMISSION SPECTRA
• ESTIMATES
• FIRING TESTS(ORDNANCE)
• GUN MUZZLES
• PEAK VALUES
• RAILS
• RECORDS
• SPECTROSCOPY
• VOLTAGE
• AUSTRALIA
• COMPUTER PROGRAMS

Subject Categories:

• Electricity and Magnetism
• Plasma Physics and Magnetohydrodynamics
• Atomic and Molecular Physics and Spectroscopy

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE