Two-dimensional heat conducting simulation of plasma armatures (for railguns)

Development of a two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) code to simulate internal motions in a railgun plasma armature is discussed. The authors use the equations of resistive MHD, with ohmic heating, and radiation heat transport. A flux corrected transport code is used to advance all quantities in time. The runs show the development of complex flow, subsequent shedding of secondary arcs, and a drop in the acceleration of the armature.<
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