Magnetohydrodynamic flow physics of magnetically nozzled plasma accelerators with applications to advanced manufacturing

The coaxial plasma accelerator is a simple, compact, and mechanically robust device that utilizes the Lorentz J×B force to accelerate plasma to high velocity. Originally developed in the 1950s for the purpose of providing energetic plasmas for fusion energy experiments, coaxial plasma accelerators are presently being investigated as an environmentally sound and economical means of materials processing and advanced manufacturing. While commercial applications of this technology are already on line, future commercial applications will require improving accelerator reproducibility and efficiency, better controlling the accelerated plasma flow velocity or energy, and better controlling the distribution of directed energy or power on target. In this paper, the magnetohydrodynamic flow physics of magnetically nozzled plasma accelerators is presented with a view to achieving the accelerator control necessary for future industrial applications. Included is a fundamental description of plasma production, acceleration, and flow in a magnetic nozzle.