David Hammer
Validated coaxial compact toroid acceleration, bridging fusion fueling and pulsed power defense work.
01 Definition
A plasma physicist who led the Ring Accelerator Experiment (RACE) at LLNL, demonstrating compact toroid railgun acceleration.
02 Detailed_Analysis
Dr. David Hammer led the Ring Accelerator Experiment (RACE) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) during the late 1980s and early 1990s. RACE investigated the acceleration of high-density compact toroid (CT) plasma rings within coaxial railgun geometries, successfully establishing high kinetic energy conversion efficiencies and directly influencing subsequent high-velocity compact toroid and pulsed power initiatives like AFRL's MARAUDER.
03 Key_Facts
- ▸ Led the Ring Accelerator Experiment (RACE) at LLNL in the late 1980s/early 1990s.
- ▸ Demonstrated coaxial electromagnetic acceleration of compact toroids.
- ▸ Provided experimental data that informed high-velocity plasma projectile research.
04 Deep_Dive_Intelligence
Overview
David Hammer is a plasma physicist at LLNL who led the RACE (Ring Accelerator Experiment) program in 1991. RACE used a coaxial railgun to accelerate compact toroids to high velocities.
RACE Significance
RACE was a fusion-oriented program that explored applications as an ICF driver, x-ray generator, tokamak fueling device, and current drive system. The RACE experiments demonstrated that compact toroids could be accelerated to high velocities in a railgun — a direct precursor to AFRL's MARAUDER.
MARAUDER Connection
The MARAUDER program at AFRL was reportedly motivated by RACE. This is the LLNL → AFRL link in the three-lab compact toroid lineage: LANL (CTX) → LLNL (Beta II, RACE) → AFRL (MARAUDER).
06 Related_Terms (2)
07 Related_Entities (3)
08 Timeline_Mentions (3)
MACH2 Explosive Model Developed
John J. Watrous and Michael H. Frese of NumerEx develop a dynamic explosive model for the MACH2 code to simulate explosive magnetic flux compression generators for LANL.
fusion-physicsAtlas Pulsed Power Facility Commissioned
Atlas commissioned at LANL. Received Shiva Star technology (capacitors, rail-gap switches). Supports SSP. Turchi liner experiments. Later relocated to Nevada Test Site.
Classified ProgramsCompact Fusion Systems (Santa Fe) founded — FRCHX commercial continuation
CFS-NM commercializes AFRL liner compression. Team has AFRL/NRL SLC experience. ARPA-E funded equipment transfer.
fusion-research09 FAQ
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Quick_Facts
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