Analytical studies of an ablation mass driver system

The electromagnetic acceleration of projectiles with an ablator using sequential Z pinches in a cylindrical electrode array is studied analytically under an assumption that every stage of the Z pinches, except the first one, is triggered automatically by the Z pinch following after the projectile. The effect of ablation on the acceleration of the projectiles is considered in detail, as well. The force distribution on the base of the projectile changes significantly when the contribution of the ablation to the total acceleration is taken into account. A method of equalizing the stress in the projectile in order to overcome the stress barrier of hypervelocities is also discussed