ELECTROMECHANICAL PULSERS
Enrico Levi · 1964
Considered is the feasibility of generation of high energy pulses directly by electromechanical power conversion without relying on intermediate storage in electrical form. Extremely large values of power output per unit volume of the machine can be obtained within the ambit of present day technology when the materials are pushed to the limit set by tensile strength. As an example, units having overall dimensions comparable with those of a medium sized turbo-generator can be built to deliver energies up to 10 to the 10th power Joules in one second and 10 to the 8th power Joules in a few milliseconds. Guiding principles for the design of these generators are presented. General relations governing the performance of converters employing hot plasmas are established.