SECONDARY ARCS IN 2-D MHD NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS OF EML PLASMA ARMATURES

We use a 2-D MHD FCT code with Spitzer resistivity to simulate a rail launcher plasma armature. The energy equation includes Ohmic heating, radiation heat transport and the ideal gas equation of state, allowing for variable ionization using the Saha equations. We calculate rail a blation taking into account the flow of heat into the interior of the rails. We include skin drag in the turbulent boundary layer approximat ion. Our simulations show the development of secondary arcs and buffer zone.