Plasma propagation and ignition of propellant in the chamber of a SPETC gun

The propagation of plasma and the spatial properties of the ignition proces s, in the chamber of a Solid Propellant Electrothermal-Chemical (SPETC) gun , are studied experimentally for discharge powers between 100 MW and 300 MW . The plasma was found to fill the entire chamber volume in approximately 1 msec. The measured axial and radial plasma propagation velocities were in the range of 1000 - 2000 m/sec and 100 - 500 m/sec, respectively. The ignit ion was found to be more intensive in the central chamber region and toward s the breech. The obtained results are used for modeling the plasma injecti on in interior ballistic codes.