Synopses & Reviews
"This book discusses explosive pulsed power sources and their applications, drawing together in a single volume the current state of knowledge on the design, construction, testing and application of magnetocumulative (or magnetic-flux-compression) generators used to produce ultra-high magnetic fields and high currents and energies. It is intended primarily for students and researchers in such fields as pulsed power, high-power microwaves, high-power lasers, rail guns, lightning simulation, physics at high energy density, and the interaction of ultra-high magnetic fields with solids. The book begins with a thorough introduction to magnetocumulation, including the underlying electromagnetic theory together with the relevant physics and technology of shock waves and explosives. It then turns to practical flux compression devices and reviews the various basic and cascaded generator designs that have appeared. The subsequent discussion of the ancillary components that ensure delivery of the output pulse to the load includes a description of switches, transformers and transmission lines. The precise form that these take depends on the characterictics of the load, and a subsequent chapter therefore discusses the effects of a number of practical loads. The book then focuses on an in-depth account of the design, construction and testing of a particular medium-size generator, giving a description of the switches and conditioning circuits, as well as the experimental techniques adopted. The concluding chapter describes a number of important practical generator applications, particularly as power sources for high-power lasers and microwave generators."
Synopsis
Devices that convert explosive energy into electromagnetic energy are often called Flux Compression Generators (FCGs) in the United States, whereas the term Magnetocumulative Generators (MCGs) is more com monly used in Russia. Since the Russian literature is accessed more heavily in this book, the latter term is used here. In any event, the basic process involves using explosives to force an initial magnetic flux into a region of smaller inductance in such a manner that loss of flux is minimized. In the event that no flux is lost, the magnetic energy associated with the flux, inversely proportional to the inductance, must increase. Flux loss is min imized by confining it with good conductors which, in turn, are driven rapidly by the explosive to reduce the system inductance. The magnetic energy is increased by the work the conductors do as they are forcibly moved against the magnetic field, the energy, in turn, being supplied by the explosive driving them. As the reader may infer, there are different kinds of generators, some of which might be difficult to recognize as MCGs. Nonetheless, they all possess the features outlined above. Explosives have some unique features as energy sources. They have very high available energy densities; they release energy rapidly, or at high power; they can develop very high pressures."
Synopsis
A discussion of explosive pulsed power systems and their applications, this book consists of 7 chapters. The first five describe the basic physics of these sources and their ancillary equipment, based on a manual for training engineers in Russia. Chapter 6 is a description of codes and methodologies used at Loughborough University in the UK to build flux compressors, while Chapter 7 covers two specific applications: high power lasers and high power microwave sources. The book introduces all types of explosive power sources and their ancillary equipment, the procedures required to build them, and specific applications.