Electromagnetic guns are the general name for installations designed to accelerate objects (objects) using electromagnetic forces. Such devices are called electromagnetic mass accelerators.
Electromagnetic guns are divided into the following types:
1. Railgun - this device is an electrode pulsed mass accelerator. The operation of this device is to move a projectile between two electrodes - a rail - along which current flows. Thanks to this, electromagnetic guns of this type got their name - railgun. In such devices, current sources are connected to the base of the rail, as a result of the current flows "after" the moving object. A magnetic field is created around the conductors through which current flows, it is concentrated behind a moving projectile. As a result, the object, in fact, is a conductor, which is placed in a perpendicular magnetic field created by the rails. According to the laws of physics, the Lorentz force acts on the projectile , which is directed in the opposite direction from the rail connection point and accelerates the object.
2. Thompson's electromagnetic guns are induction mass accelerators. The principles of electromagnetic induction are the basis of the work of induction guns. A rapidly increasing current occurs in the device’s coil; it induces an alternating magnetic field in space. A winding is wound around a ferrite core, at the end of which there is a conductive ring. Due to the magnetic flux that penetrates the ring, an alternating current occurs . It creates a magnetic field having an opposite direction to the winding field. The conductive ring repels its field from the opposite field of the winding and, accelerating, flies off the ferrite core. The speed and output power of the ring directly depend on the strength of the current pulse.
3. Gaussian electromagnetic gun - magnetic mass accelerator. It is named after the mathematician-scientist Karl Gauss, who made a huge contribution to the study of the properties of electromagnetism. The main element of the Gauss gun is the solenoid. It is wound on a dielectric tube (trunk). A ferromagnetic object is inserted at one end of the tube. When an electric current appears in the coil, a magnetic field will appear in the solenoid, under the influence of which the projectile accelerates (in the direction of the center of the solenoid). At the same time, poles are formed at the ends of the charge, which are oriented accordingly to the poles of the coil, as a result of which, after the projectile passes through the center of the solenoid, it begins to be attracted in the opposite direction (it is braked). The scheme of the electromagnetic gun is shown in the photo.
Modern science has made significant advances in the study of acceleration and energy storage, as well as the formation of impulses. It can be assumed that in the near future, humanity will face a new type of weapon - electromagnetic guns. The development of this technology requires tremendous work in all aspects of mass accelerators, including shells and power supply. The most important role will be played by new materials. To implement such a project, powerful and compact sources of electrical energy will be required. As well as high temperature superconductors. Considering that the works of N. Tesla have been very popular lately, it can be assumed that these technologies can be combined. In this case, we will see electromagnetic guns without energy sources, because it will come directly from the ether.