Dynamics of plasma channel in a parallel-plate plasma gun

• Dynamics of plasma channel in a parallel-plate plasma gun is investigated.
• Lumped parameter models show good agreements with experiments.
• Parametric study has been carried out to improve the device's performance.
• Reduction of line inductance is essential to increase the flow velocity.

Lumped parameter models for describing dynamics of the plasma channel in a parallel-plate plasma gun are compared with the experimental results obtained from two plasma guns with different rail geometries. Comparison between the experiments and the numerical calculations reveals that the lumped parameter models can be utilized to describe the dynamic motion of the plasma channel quite well. Parametric study shows that minimizing the line inductance and increasing the charging voltage on a capacitor as well as minimizing the gas injection time for reducing the mass of the plasma channel are the key factors to increase the flow velocity of the plasma jet ejected from the plasma gun.