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

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

“…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.…”

“…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.…”

“…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).…”

“…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 .…”

Case and Development Path for Fusion Propulsion

“…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].…”