An Experimental Study of a Low-Jitter Pulsed Electromagnetic Plasma Accelerator

Thio, Y. C. Francis; Lee, Michael; Eskridge, Richard; Smith, James; Martin, Adam; Rodgers, Stephen L.

doi:10.2514/6.2002-4269

Cited by 3 publications

(9 citation statements)

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“…To provide an azimuthal perturbation to one side of this coil-generated spine axis, we consider the magnetic field of a generalized coaxial plasma gun (CPG) (e.g. Larson, Liebing & Dethlefsen 1966;Scheuer et al 1994;Thio et al 2002) with plasma sheath parameters and run-down phase dynamics identical to a dense plasma focus apparatus (DPF) (see below). A CPG is constructed from a thin, cylindrical anode a few centimetres in length insulated from an outer, concentric cathode.…”

Section: Plasma Scaling Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…where R is the resistance, C is the capacitance, r is the radial distance and t is the time elapsed since the discharge. Typical values of CPG discharges, V 0 = 6 kV, R = 1 mΩ and C = 330μF, were adopted to approximate this magnetic field (Lindberg & Jacobsen 1961;Larson et al 1966;Schaer 1994;Scheuer et al 1994;Heo & Park 2002;Thio et al 2002;Witherspoon et al 2009). Figures 5(e) and 5( f ) show the simulated electrodynamics of the hardware architecture and demonstrate the feasibility of this configuration to provide the required driving of torsional fan reconnection under proper MHD plasma conditions.…”

Section: Plasma Scaling Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The parameters listed in the top portion of the table give the characteristic values used to numerically solve (2.1) to (2.16). Coaxial plasma gun specifications from previous experiments (Larson et al 1966;Scheuer et al 1994;Thio et al 2002) are used to show in table 1 that such a configuration can satisfy the requirements for reconnection to occur from an induced breakdown of ideal MHD plasma conditions (Büchner 1999;Ryutov, Drake & Remington 2000;Kallenrode 2004). Helium CPG plasma sheaths (A = 4) are formed at discharge voltages of 10 kV and densities of ∼ 10 20 m −3 (Lindberg & Jacobsen 1961;Larson et al 1966;Schaer 1994;Scheuer et al 1994;Heo & Park 2002;Thio et al 2002).…”

Section: Plasma Scaling Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Coaxial plasma gun specifications from previous experiments (Larson et al 1966;Scheuer et al 1994;Thio et al 2002) are used to show in table 1 that such a configuration can satisfy the requirements for reconnection to occur from an induced breakdown of ideal MHD plasma conditions (Büchner 1999;Ryutov, Drake & Remington 2000;Kallenrode 2004). Helium CPG plasma sheaths (A = 4) are formed at discharge voltages of 10 kV and densities of ∼ 10 20 m −3 (Lindberg & Jacobsen 1961;Larson et al 1966;Schaer 1994;Scheuer et al 1994;Heo & Park 2002;Thio et al 2002). The electric potential value Φ 0 is derived from a capacitor bank discharge voltage V 0 = 6 kV typical of CPG helium gas breakdown across ≈10 cm (Larson et al 1966;Scheuer et al 1994;Thio et al 2002), corresponding to electric fields of ≈60 kV m −1 .…”

Section: Plasma Scaling Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Test particle acceleration in resistive torsional fan magnetic reconnection using laboratory plasma parameters

Chesny¹,

Orange

Hatfield

2021

J. Plasma Phys.

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Particle acceleration via magnetic reconnection is a fundamental process in astrophysical plasmas. Experimental architectures are able to confirm a wide variety of particle dynamics following the two-dimensional Sweet–Parker model, but are limited in their reproduction of the fan-spine magnetic field topology about three-dimensional (3-D) null points. Specifically, there is not yet an experiment featuring driven 3-D torsional magnetic reconnection. To move in this direction, this paper expands on recent work toward the design of an experimental infrastructure for inducing 3-D torsional fan reconnection by predicting feasible particle acceleration profiles. Solutions to the steady-state, kinematic, resistive magnetohydrodynamic equations are used to numerically calculate particle trajectories from a localized resistivity profile using well-understood laboratory plasma parameters. We confine a thin, 10 eV helium sheath following the snowplough model into the region of this localized resistivity and find that it is accelerated to energies of ${\approx }2$ keV. This sheath is rapidly accelerated and focused along the spine axis propagating a few centimetres from the reconnection region. These dynamics suggest a novel architecture that may hold promise for future experiments studying solar coronal particle acceleration and for technology applications such as spacecraft propulsion.

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Section: Plasma Scaling Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Plasma Scaling Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Plasma Scaling Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Plasma Scaling Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Test particle acceleration in resistive torsional fan magnetic reconnection using laboratory plasma parameters

Chesny¹,

Orange

Hatfield

2021

J. Plasma Phys.

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“…In 1999, Thio et al [45] described an MTF approach that could provide a specific impulse of 7.7 × 10 4 s, power-to-mass ratios up to 1.14 MW∕kg at repetition rate ω 100 Hz, thrust of 340 kN, jet power of 128 GW, and total system mass of 112 tons. Pulsed electromagnetic plasma accelerators were tested [46] and modeled [47] as potential drivers for the plasma liner. The NASA MSFC Advanced Concepts Office conducted a detailed mission analysis for a human-piloted mission to Callisto, summarized in a 140 page analysis of interplanetary mission with human crew using the PJMIF as propulsion [48].…”

Section: B Major Nasa Programsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Case and Development Path for Fusion Propulsion

Cassibry¹,

Cortez²,

Stanić³

et al. 2015

Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets

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This paper discusses the importance of fusion propulsion for interplanetary space travel, illustrates why the magnetoinertial fusion parameter space may facilitate the most rapid, economic path for development, justifies the choice of pulsed Z pinch, and provides a potential development path leading up to a technical readiness level 9 system. Round trips of less than one year to Mars are only possible using fusion propulsion systems. Such a system will require an onboard nuclear fission reactor for reliable startups, and so fission and fusion developments for space are mutually beneficial. The paper reviews the more than 50 year history of fusion research and summarizes results from a recent study of the fusion parameter space for terrestrial power, which suggests magnetoinertial fusion can provide the smallest, most economical approach for a fusion propulsion system. Emerging experimental data and theory show pulsed Z-pinch fusion solves some of the most deleterious instabilities and scales to fusion breakeven within reach of current pulsed power facilities. The paper illustrates a potential development path to a technical readiness level 9 flight system, starting from an assumed technical readiness level 2 for the current state of fusion propulsion. Nomenclature a = acceleration, m∕s 2 g 0 = gravitational acceleration at Earth's surface, m∕s 2 J = mission difficulty parameter, m 2 ∕s 3 k = ratio of tank to propellant mass m = mass, kg _ m = mass flow rate, kg∕s N = total number of stages, number of fusion reactions n = number density P = power, W R = distance traveled, m T = total trip time and time, s t = time, s V = reacting volume, m 3 v j = jet or exhaust velocity, m∕s Y = fusion energy yield, J α = propulsion system specific mass, kg∕W β = mission type multiplication factor γ = ratio of propulsion system to initial mass of nth stage Δv = velocity increment, m∕s λ = payload mass fraction τ = characteristic time, s Subscripts burn = propulsive burn c, coast = unpowered coasting conf = confinement d = dwell, as in dwell time τ d f = final fus = fusion jet = jet, as in for jet power P jet n = number of the stage opt = optimum p = propulsion time pay = payload pn = propulsion time for nth stage (as in for T pn ) pr = propellant ps = propulsion system t = tank 0 = initial 1, 2 = dummy subscripts indicating different species

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