title: A fast rise-rate, adjustable-mass-bit gas puff valve for energetic pulsed plasma experiments.
abstract: A fast rise-rate, variable mass-bit gas puff valve based on the diamagnetic repulsion principle was designed, built, and experimentally characterized. The ability to hold the pressure rise-rate nearly constant while varying the total overall mass bit was achieved via a movable mechanical restrictor that is accessible while the valve is assembled and pressurized. The rise-rates and mass-bits were measured via piezoelectric pressure transducers for plenum pressures between 10 and 40 psig and restrictor positions of 0.02-1.33 cm from the bottom of the linear restrictor travel. The mass-bits were found to vary linearly with the restrictor position at a given plenum pressure, while rise-rates varied linearly with plenum pressure but exhibited low variation over the range of possible restrictor positions. The ability to change the operating regime of a pulsed coaxial plasma deflagration accelerator by means of altering the valve parameters is demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Stanford Plasma Physics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Keith T K
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Loebner
authors.affiliation: Stanford Plasma Physics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Underwood
authors.affiliation: Stanford Plasma Physics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cappelli