Velocity Limitation of a Coaxial Plasma Gun

Abstract

Arguments are cited to establish that for reasonable acceleration to occur in a pulsed coaxial plasma gun a conduction current must be drawn between electrodes in contact with the plasma. Further, under assumptions deemed justifiable for the coaxial gun it is shown that the current must consist of equal parts of ion and electron current. A drag force on the plasma then results from momentum exchange between the ions and the cathode. The equation of motion for the plasma including this drag force is solved and the results are shown to be consistent with experimental experience.