High power electrothermal discharge technology provides an attractive approach for accelerating sdi kew projectiles and for sdi space propulsion. stored energy is used to heat suitable plasma materials in a large l/d tube on microsecond time scales, creating a high pressure,low molecular weight jet.… More

To date, high current mechanical opening switches for inductive store applications have been limited to long (100-1000 microsec) opening times because of speed or pressure limitations. by using an insulatting fluid in the opening gap, opening current and voltage holdoff performance can be increased… More

The plume produced by the gas flow through the nozzle of a rocket engine or system vent on a spacecraft can contaminatethe spacecraft, its sensors and other nearby apparatus. analytic methods fail for dense or cool exhaust gas, which exhibits viscous boundary layer flow, and numeric solutions for… More

An on-orbit propulsion capacity is required for strategic defense thatfeatures high efficiency at a specific impulse of 1000-3000 seconds. this propulsion is required for orbit transfer, orbital maneuvering and station-keeping missions. the pulsed electrothermal (pet) thruster seems particularly… More

A method is proposed for defending shore establishments and sea vessels from acts of overt and covert intrusion by human swimmers across defensive perimeters. the basic interdiction device is placed in the water at the facility to be defended, and delivers a high intensity, directional acoustic… More