Magnetic Flux Contributed by the Plasma Armature in an Electromagnetic Launcher

摘要

The magnetic flux and the inductance due to the current passing through a plasma armature in an electromagnetic launcher is evaluated assuming that the current distribution within the armature is uniform. The expressions derived are then used by the computer program PLAFLUX.FOR to generate values for the plasma armature inductance and magnetic flux during acceleration. It is shown that the plasma armature inductance is negligible in comparison with the rail inductance.