Current distribution and plasma properties in injectors for electrothermal-chemical launch

Various designs of injectors for electrothermal-chemical launchers involve a periodic array of solid and plasma conductors. A two-dimensional model to determine both the conduction characteristics and plasma properties for a generic injector of this type is developed. The governing equations, which consists of the coupled Maxwell and energy-transport equations, are presented, and the methodology for solving them is discussed. Some specific calculations that determine how the electrical and thermodynamic characteristics of the device are affected by geometry and operating conditions are carried out. Possible further extensions of the model, as well as behavior that those extensions might elucidate, are also indicated.