Saulius Balevicius

Highly Local Measurements of Strong Transient Magnetic Fields During Railgun Experiments Using CMR-Based Sensors

The accurate measurement of the magnetic field distribution during electromagnetic launch experiments is an ambitious task. Loop sensors are widely used for detecting the change in magnetic flux. However, this technique is mostly used only for qualitative purposes, e.g., for triggering various devices. This paper deals with the use of another type of high magnetic field sensor based on thin (<1 mum) manganite films, which exhibit the colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) effect. This sensor measures the magnitude of the magnetic induction and can have very small sensitive areas (e.g., 0.5 mmtimes50 mum). Some basics about CMR and the design of the sensor are given. Several sensors were used in experiments performed with the ISL-launcher EMA3 (Eprim =0.6 MJ, l=3 m, cal=15 mmtimes30 mm). Transient magnetic field profiles with rise times of approximately 50 mus and amplitudes up to 4 T were recorded. The results obtained with the CMR sensors are compared with those of conventional loop sensors. Also, some metrological peculiarities due to high-frequency coupling to the detector circuit are mentioned. The highly local measurements of these CMR sensors were validated by results obtained from 3-D finite element (FE) calculations of the magnetic field distributions

Nanostructured thin manganite films in megagauss magnetic field

We report on the use of the colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) effect in manganites for the measurement of pulsed magnetic fields up to the megagauss limit. To increase the application range in a magnetic field, we fabricated nanostructured La-Sr-Mn-O films consisting of nanocrystallites cummulated into clusters separated by highly amorphous inter-cluster boundaries. We demonstrate that the CMR effect does not saturate in these films at 77 K up to 91.4 T. Moreover, the magnetoresistance behavior at 290 K shows that nanostructured manganite films are promising candidates for the development of magnetic field scalar sensors operating in wide field and temperature ranges.

B-Scalar Measurements by CMR-Based Sensors of Highly Inhomogeneous Transient Magnetic Fields

We present local measurements of absolute values of pulsed magnetic fields in a typical electromagnetic launching system-a small coilgun. For this purpose, we designed magnetic field sensors based on thin polycrystalline La0.83Sr0.17MnO3 films exhibiting a colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) effect. We measured the magnetic field distribution inside the bore of a coilgun consisting of a multilayer coil and inserted a copper projectile in the shape of a hollow cylinder using an array of CMR-based sensors. In order to identify places with highly inhomogeneous magnetic field changes in direction and value, we simulated a pulsed magnetic field inside the coilgun. The measurements of magnetic induction compared well with simulations. CMR-based sensors are able to measure highly inhomogeneous magnetic fields in very small areas independently of the magnetic field direction with respect to the orientation of the sensor.

Pulsed magnetic field measurement system based on colossal magnetoresistance-B-scalar sensors for railgun investigation

A high pulsed magnetic field measurement system based on the use of CMR-B-scalar sensors was developed for the investigations of the electrodynamic processes in electromagnetic launchers. The system consists of four independent modules (channels) which are controlled by a personal computer. Each channel is equipped with a CMR-B-scalar sensor connected to the measurement device-B-scalar meter. The system is able to measure the magnitude of pulsed magnetic fields from 0.3 T to 20 T in the range from DC up to 20 kHz independently of the magnetic field direction. The measurement equipment circuit is electrically separated from the ground and shielded against low and high frequency electromagnetic noise. The B-scalar meters can be operated in the presence of ambient pulsed magnetic fields with amplitudes up to 0.2 T and frequencies higher than 1 kHz. The recorded signals can be transmitted to a personal computer in a distance of 25 m by means of a fiber optic link. The system was tested using the electromagnetic railgun RAFIRA installed at the French-German Research Institute of Saint-Louis, France.

Electric field-induced effects on yeast cell wall permeabilization.

The permeability of the yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) to lipophilic tetraphenylphosphonium cations (TPP(+) ) after their treatment with single square-shaped strong electric field pulses was analyzed. Pulsed electric fields (PEF) with durations from 5 to 150 µs and strengths from 0 to 10 kV/cm were applied to a standard electroporation cuvette filled with the appropriate buffer. The TPP(+) absorption process was analyzed using an ion selective microelectrode (ISE) and the plasma membrane permeability was determined by measurements obtained using a calcein blue dye release assay. The viability of the yeast and the inactivation of the cells were determined using the optical absorbance method. The experimental data taken after yeasts were treated with PEF and incubated for 3 min showed an increased uptake of TPP(+) by the yeast. This process can be controlled by setting the amplitude and pulse duration of the applied PEF. The kinetics of the TPP(+) absorption process is described using the second order absolute rate equation. It was concluded that the changes of the charge on the yeast cell wall, which is the main barrier for TPP(+) , is due to the poration of the plasma membrane. The applicability of the TPP(+) absorption measurements for the analysis of yeast cells electroporation process is also discussed.

Manganite Sensor for Measurements of Magnetic Field Disturbances of Pulsed Actuators

Magnetic field sensors based on polycrystalline La0.83Sr0.17MnO3 films were used to measure the magnetic field distribution and disturbances during the operation of an electromagnetic launcher. Hollow cylinders made from dural aluminum and iron were used as propelled objects inside the solenoidal coil. The obtained results revealed the ability of manganite sensors to rapidly measure changing high magnetic fields of arbitrary waveforms.

CMR-B-Scalar Sensor Application for High Magnetic Field Measurement in Nondestructive Pulsed Magnets

In this paper, we present the investigation of the axial and radial magnetic-field distribution inside and outside of the bore of a nondestructive pulsed-field coil presently installed at the Dresden High Magnetic Field Laboratory (HLD). The array used for these magnetic-field measurements was made up of three CMR-B-scalar sensors based on nanostructured La-Sr-Mn-O films. The investigations were performed at a temperature of 270 K and at a peak field of 46 T. The experimental results fit well with calculations obtained using ANSYS code based on the finite element method (FEM). It is concluded that the CMR-B-scalar sensors can be successfully used for the investigation of the magnetic-field distribution in pulsed high magnetic field coils.

Magnetic Diffusion Inside the Rails of an Electromagnetic Launcher: Experimental and Numerical Studies

The topic of this paper is the distribution of magnetic fields inside the rails of the electromagnetic railgun RAFIRA located at the ISL. The magnetic field pulse characteristics are measured using colossal magnetoresistance-B-scalar sensors placed at different depths inside the rails of the accelerator. During launch the muzzle velocity reached up to 1.4 km/s, the electrical shot energy is about 1.2 MJ and the projectile mass was 140 g. The obtained results are analyzed using two models based on analytic solutions of Maxwells equations. The first model considers the 1-D magnetic field diffusion in the direction perpendicular to the rails. The second model includes convection and simulates the 2-D behavior of the magnetic field distribution in three regions: the armature, the contact zone between rail and armature and the rail behind the armature. Additionally, 2-D and 3-D quasistationary finite element models are developed using Comsol Multiphysics. Excellent agreement is found between the 3-D simulation results and the measurements of magnetic diffusion.

Theoretical Analysis and Experimental Determination of the Relationships Between the Parameters of the Electric Field Pulse Required to Electroporate the Cells

Here, theoretical relationships between the parameters of the electric pulse, which is necessary to porate the cell by electric pulse of various shapes, have been obtained. The theoretical curves were compared with the experimental relationships. Experiments were carried out with human erythrocytes, Chinese hamster ovary and mouse hepatoma MH-22A cells. The fraction of electroporated MH-22A cells was determined from the extent of the release of intracellular potassium ions and erythrocytes-from the extent of their hemolysis after long (20-24 h) incubation in 0.63% NaCl solution at 4°C. The dependence of the fraction of electroporated cells on the amplitude of the electric field pulse was determined for pulses with the duration from 95 ns to 2 ms. The shapes of theoretical dependencies are in agreement with experimental ones. The cell poration time depended on the intensity of the pulse: the shorter the pulse duration, the higher the electric field strength has to be. This dependence is much more pronounced for pulses . For example, if the pulse amplitude required to electroporate 50% of human erythrocytes increased from 1.0 to 1.76 kV/cm, when the duration of a square-wave pulse was reduced from 2 ms to 20 μs, it increased from 3 to 12 kV/cm, when the pulse duration was reduced from 950 to 95 ns. The relationships between the electric field strength required for electroporation and the frequency of the applied ac field were calculated for different pulselengths. It has been obtained that although the electric field strength is constant for frequencies but its value depends on the pulselength decreasing with increasing pulse duration. At higher frequencies, electric field strength is dependent on the frequency of the ac field.

Current Distribution and Contact Mechanisms in Static Railgun Experiments With Brush Armatures

The use of brush armatures for accelerating railgun projectiles allows muzzle velocities in excess of 2.5 km/s and contact transition velocities of at least 1.8 km/s in middle-caliber launchers to be obtained. The technology developed at ISL is based on the use of multiple brush armatures. Asymmetric wear has been observed in dynamic launch experiments when the brushes were separated in shot direction. This indicates the presence of asymmetric current distribution. In this paper, mechanisms determining the current distribution of multiple brush armatures are investigated using a static approach. Experiments were performed using a section of the ISL EMA3 railgun with 270-mm-long rails. It had a caliber of 15 mm x 30 mm and was connected to a 150-kJ capacitor bank. Three series of experiments focusing on specific parameter variations are presented. The current distributions were recorded using small Rogowski coils placed around the brushes. Magnetoresistive sensors were used for highly local measurements of magnetic fields in the vicinity of the brushes. Results reveal insight into the contact behavior of multiple brush armatures. More specifically, phase transitions at the brush-rail interfaces can be observed. This is typical in dynamic experiments when the current commutates from one brush to another. The experiments are discussed with the help of PSPICE simulations.