Cesium-seeded hydrogen-magnetohydrodynamic disk generator

A magnetohydrodynamic generator (MHD) of the disk type operated on cesium-seeded hydrogen yields a high performance system of low overall specific mass and is especially attractive for nuclear electric space power systems. Realization of a system of this type depends critically on the achievement of stable, nonequilibrium ionization in hydrogen. This paper presents an analytical method which establishes the stable nonequilibrium conductivity in terms of the temperature coefficient of electrical conductivity. The paper concludes with the determination of the experimental conditions under which the required stable regime can be demonstrated.