Dynamics of plasma piston composition

The article is devoted to the stratification of plasma formation in the railgun channel. The motion model for a composition of plasma pistons interacting with each other, rails and railgun walls was proposed. It was shown that the maximum impulse that could be transmitted to the throwing body in this system substantially depends on the initial position of the plasma pistons, according to the simulation results. The rational initial system configuration is obtained, at which the maximum value of the momentum transferred to the throwing body is reached. Possible options for obtaining such a configuration and a qualitative model of the stratification of a single plasma formation into several plasma pistons were proposed. (paper)