Quench Coil Launch

A launching platform consisting of co-axial coils, whereby an inner object is accelerated by appropriately shaping the magnetic field along the length of the outer coil. A superconducting coil is used so energy is extracted by quenching the superconducting state. The magnitude of the impulse is determined by the energy stored in the magnet and the time scale over which the magnetic field is discharged.  The coil launch system utilizes superconducting tapes with extremely high current density to attain the highest practical flux density for the drive coil, where >10 T field has been demonstrated with an iron projectile.  Superconducting bulk can be used as a projectile component to further increase impulse to >20 T.  The resistivity of inter-turn contacts determines the discharge rate, so the process includes the ability to tune the impulse by modifying the "metal insulation" component between turns that is tailored to the mechanical limits of the projectile.

Applications:

• Aircraft catapults
• Projectile launcher
• Delivery system

Advantages:

• Silent, with no smoke to give it away
• No sliding contacts as used in railguns
• No intrinsic velocity limits
• Twice the firing rate

Keywords: Military, cannon, missile, payload