MARAUDER
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
MARAUDER (Magnetically accelerated ring to achieve ultrahigh directed energy and radiation) is, or was, a United States Air Force Research Laboratory project concerning the development of a coaxial plasma railgun. It is one of several United States Government efforts to develop plasma-based projectiles.[1] The first computer simulations occurred in 1990, and its first published experiment appeared on August 1, 1993.[2][3]
Contents
Objectives[edit]
The first MARAUDER experiment was motivated by RACE, or the Ring Accelerator Experiment, which took place in 1991 at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.[3][4] The ultimate goal of the MARAUDER program was to accelerate highly dense toroids containing plasma to high speeds. Such a system could be used for “hypervelocity projectiles,” x-ray production, and electrical power amplification. The stated goals of the program included studying the “formation, compression, and acceleration of magnetized plasma rings.”[3]
Specifically, the objective of the program was the acceleration of a toroid of 0.5-2.0 mg plasma to a kinetic energy level on the order of megajoules using a 5-10 MJ coaxial gun design.[3]
Design[edit]
In 1993, the Phillips Laboratory developed a coaxial plasma gun capable of accelerating 1–2 mg of plasma by up to 1010g in a toroid of 1 meter in diameter.[3] The toroids are similar to spheromaks, but differ in that an inner conductor is used to accelerate the plasma and that confinement behavior results from interactions of the toroid with its surrounding atmosphere. It utilized the Shiva Star capacitor bank to satisfy the large energy requirements that were needed.
The plasma projectiles would be shot at a speed expected to be 3000 km/s in 1995 and 10,000 km/s (3% of the speed of light) by 2000. A shot has the energy of 5 pounds of TNT exploding. Doughnut-shaped rings of plasma and balls of lightning exploded with devastating thermal and mechanical effects when hitting their target and produced pulse of electromagnetic radiation that could scramble electronics, the energy would shower the interior of the target with high-energy x-rays that would potentially destroy the electronics inside.[5]
Current status[edit]
As of 1993, the project appeared to be in the early experimental stages. The weapon was able to produce doughnut-shaped rings of plasma and balls of lightning that exploded with devastating thermal and mechanical effects when hitting their target and produced pulse of electromagnetic radiation that could scramble electronics.[6] The project's initial success led to it becoming classified, and only a few references to MARAUDER appeared after 1993. No information about the fate of the project has been published after 1995.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
^ Sovinec, C. R. (1990). "Phase 1b MARAUDER computer simulations". IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science. 22 (16).
^ Jump up to:a b c d e Dengan, J. H.; et al. (1993-08-01). "Compact toroid formation, compression, and acceleration". Physics of Fluids B. 5 (8): 2938–2958. Bibcode:1993PhFlB...5.2938D. doi:10.1063/1.860681.
^ McLean, H. S. (1991). Ring Accelerator Experiment (RACE). Plasma Science, 1991. IEEE Conference Record - Abstracts. p. 166. doi:10.1109/PLASMA.1991.695662. ISBN 978-0-7803-0147-4.
^ Jane's Defence Weekly 29 July 1998
External links[edit]
UNFRIENDLY FIRE (a reference on ball lightning, with a section on MARAUDER) at the Wayback Machine (archived February 23, 2007)
MARAUDER means Magnetically Accelerated Rings to Achieve Ultrahigh Directed Energy and Radiation
What does MARAUDER mean? - Definition of MARAUDER - MARAUDER stands for Magnetically Accelerated Rings to Achieve Ultrahigh Directed Energy and Radiation. By AcronymsAndSlang.com Image Source: Image HTML: HTML with link: Share this picture: Most popular questions people look for before coming to this page Q: A: What does MARAUDER stand for? MARAUDER stands for "Magnetically Accelerated Rings to Achieve Ultrahigh Directed Energy and Radiation". Q: A: How to abbreviate "Magnetically Accelerated Rings to Achieve Ultrahigh Directed Energy and Radiation"? "Magnetically Accelerated Rings to Achieve Ultrahigh Directed Energy and Radiation" can be abbreviated as MARAUDER. Q: A: What is the meaning of MARAUDER abbreviation? The meaning of MARAUDER abbreviation is "Magnetically Accelerated Rings to Achieve Ultrahigh Directed Energy and Radiation". Q: A: What is MARAUDER abbreviation? One of the definitions of MARAUDER is "Magnetically Accelerated Rings to Achieve Ultrahigh Directed Energy and Radiation". Q: A: What does MARAUDER mean? MARAUDER as abbreviation means "Magnetically Accelerated Rings to Achieve Ultrahigh Directed Energy and Radiation". Q: A: What is shorthand of Magnetically Accelerated Rings to Achieve Ultrahigh Directed Energy and Radiation? The most common shorthand of "Magnetically Accelerated Rings to Achieve Ultrahigh Directed Energy and Radiation" is MARAUDER. You can also look at abbreviations and acronyms with word MARAUDER in term. Page Link Citation Styles Suggest New Abbreviations or Slang with similar meaning DE/OCM - Directed Energy/Optical Countermeasures DETAR - Directed Energy Technology Applications and Research DEWPOINT - Directed Energy Weapon Power Integration DENS - Directed Energy Neutralization System DENIS - Directed Energy Neutralization System DEST - Directed Energy Science and Technology DEW - Directed Energy Warfare DEWINT - Directed Energy Weapons Intelligence MAP - Magnetically Accelerated Projectile DEA - Directed Energy Applications DED - Directed Energy Directorate DEMP - Directed Energy Master Plan DEW - Directed Energy Weapon/Warfare DEWL - Directed Energy Weapons Laser DEWPB - Directed Energy Weapons Particle Beam SERBS - Surface Energy and Radiation Balance System TAP - To Achieve by Participating TSS - to achieve steady state detec - Directed Energy Test and Evaluation Capability er - Energy and Radiation
