Calculation and Analysis of Electrophysical Processes in a High-Power Plasma Accelerator with an Intrinsic Magnetic Field

Abstract

We have considered basic theoretical models describing various aspects of the formation and acceleration of plasma in pulsed accelerators. The discharge current, magnetic field, and plasma bunch velocity have been determined experimentally at different initial gas pressures in the accelerator chamber. We have considered the correspondence of some theoretical models of plasma acceleration to experimental data obtained in a KPU-30 coaxial accelerator. It is shown that the formation of the plasma in the coaxial accelerator depends on the plasma density, and acceleration processes at densities higher and lower than a certain transient density value on the order of 1011–1012 cm–3 are different. At a density higher than this critical value, the plasma is accelerated by a magnetic force. At the same time, at a low plasma density, plasma can be accelerated by an internal electric field.