Stead-field coilgun methods and devices

Abstract

A method for operating an electromagnetic coilgun system, the method comprising: an electromagnetic coilgun comprising: a barrel and a longitudinally extended electrical excitation coil; wherein the electrical excitation coil circumferentially surrounds a bore of the barrel, energizing the electrical excitation coil to produce a steady-state magnetic field within and around the bore of the barrel, the steady-state magnetic field extending along a longitudinal axis of the barrel; loading the barrel with a magnetic dipole projectile at a breech end of the barrel, wherein the loaded magnetic dipole projectile is oriented with a first magnetic dipole moment aligned to a magnetic field orientation of the steady state magnetic field; and firing the magnetic dipole projectile by magnetically propelling the magnetic dipole along the longitudinal axis of the bore by a magnetic force produced by the steady-state magnetic field within and around the bore of the barrel.