Two-dimensional unsteady flow established in an electrodeless traveling wave plasma accelerator was theoretically analyzed to help explain, and possibly predict, phenomena appearing during experiments on problems of acceleration of an ionized fluid plasma

Peyret, R.

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December 1970	 Brief 70-10683 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
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application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, 
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nology Utilization Division, NASA,Code UT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Theoretical Study of a Plasma Accelerator 
• The two-dimensional unsteady flow established in 
a traveling wave plasma accelerator was subjected to a 
purely theoretical analysis in order to help explain, and 
possibly predict, phenomena appearing during experi-
ments on the problems of acceleration of an ionized 
fluid plasma. This study is of particular importance 
because plasma acceleration has a diversity of applica-
tions, such as plasma injectors used in controlled ther-
monuclear fusion and electric propulsion systems 
used in space. 
• Plasma accelerators come in a variety of designs: 
pulsed or continuous; dc or ac; with or without elec-
trodes. The specific accelerator studied was an elec-
trodeless traveling wave device in which the ionized 
fluid remained nearly neutral during operation. In 
this system, an unsteady traveling magnetic field is 
created, and currents are induced in the plasma. In-
teraction of the currents with the magnetic field creates 
the acceleration of the ionized fluid. 
The small-perturbation theory, under conditions of 
small magnetic Reynolds number and weak electro-
magneticinteraction,was used for the study. The partial 
differential equation for pressure was solved using a 
Laplace transform,and the remaining quantities desired
were derived from the pressure through the integration 
of simple equations. Finally, the analytical results 
were computed numerically to clarify the effects of the 
various parameters. 
Note: 
The following documentation may be obtained 
from:
National Technical Information Service 
Springfield, Virginia 22151 
Single document price $3.00 
(or microfiche $0.65) 
Reference: 
(N67- 16558). Two - Dimensional Unsteady 
Flow in a Traveling Wave Plasma Accelerator 
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by NASA. 
Source: Roger Peyret of 
Caltech/JPL 
under contract to 
NASA Pasadena Office 
(NPO-1 1480). 
Category 03 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States	 will be free from privately owned-rights.
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Theoretical study of a plasma accelerator

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