Research and Construction of a Mechanically Accelerated Sabot System for the Production of Intense Molecular Beams

摘要

An experimental investigation has been undertaken of the Mechanically Accelerated Sabot System (MASS) which holds the promise of producing a molecular beam in the intermediate energy region. Apparatus has been constructed which permits the firing, in vacuum, a hollow, gas filled projectile from a high speed rifle. Provision has been made for localizing the combustion gases to prevent contamination of the main vacuum chamber in which the high speed projectile is opened in flight and the gas released. Several projectile designs and opening devices were investigated. The projectile velocity was measured and photographs were made at several points along the projectile path. Photographs of the projectile opening process were used in an extensive study to determine a means of effecting the release of the gas sample cleanly and without disturbance. After the gas is released from the projectile, it propagates down range as an expanding cloud and the pressure pulses were observed as the cloud passes several ion gauge stations. Although it was not possible in the time alloted to collimate the gas cloud into a useable molecular beam, it is concluded that the technique can be made successful, at least for velocities of a few km/sec. (Author)