BOOK OF ABSTRACTS 2012 International - Ness Engineering, Inc.

EXPERIMENTAL AND THEORETICAL STUDIES OF A FLYER-PLATE
ELECTROMAGNETIC ACCELERATOR
Kaashif Omar 1 , Neal Graneau 1 , Mark Sinclair 1 , Bucur Novac 2 , Ivor Smith 2 , Peter
Senior 2
1 AWE, Hydrodynamics Department, Aldermaston, United Kingdom, 2 Loughborough
University, School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering, Loughborough,
United Kingdom
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A joint programme involving the study and practical performance of a flyer plate electromagnetic
accelerator has recently been initiated by AWE, Aldermaston and Loughborough University Two
electromagnetic accelerating systems have been developed as part of the programme: AMPERE,
based on a 120 kJ/40 kV capacitor bank mounted at AWE and QUATTO, based on a
100 kJ/22 kV capacitor bank and operated at Loughborogh Pulsed Power Laboratory. Both 0-D
and 2-D numerical models for the foil-flyer accelerator have been developed. The 0-D model is
used primarily for parametric design studies and the 2-D model for accurately calculating the 2-D
distribution of the current, velocity, acceleration and temperature of the flyer, together with the
complete distribution of the magnetic and electric fields generated during a shot. Recently, a
novel form of inductive sensor has been installed and successfully used to detect the current
distribution in the flyer, although the probe can also be used with any parallel-plate transmission
line. The paper will present the most relevant experimental data obtained during the first phase of
the joint programme and compare this with theoretical predictions.