Longitudinal Electrodynamic Forces | and Their Possible Technological Applications

This thesis deals with the relatively unknown phenomena of longitudinal forces in conductors. A survey of relevant experiments is given. Amp ere electrodynamics, which has been proposed to account for the phenomena, is compared with a Maxwell stress approach, and these are found to be equivalent. The relationship between di erent `action at a distance' theories is discussed. The role of relativistic electric elds, and electric elds from surface charges, is considered. Several interesting applications such as metal punching, liquidmetal pumping, water-arc jet propulsion, high current limiting and electrodynamic plasma fusion are covered, together with a novel application: the electrodynamic explosion motor.