Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Table of Contents -- Foreword -- Introduction -- Chapter 1 Engineering Technical Problemsof Developing MHD Power Plants -- 1.1. Introduction -- 1.2. Present Stage of Investigations and Future Developments -- 1.3. Thermal Loops and Layout of MHD Power Systems -- 1.4. Engineering Problems of Developing an MHD Power System -- Chapter 2 Calculation of MHD Channel Flows -- 2.1. Introduction -- 2.2. Axial (Longitudinal) Problems of Electrodynamics -- 2.3. Traverse Electrodynamic Problems -- 2.4. Two Dimensional Inviscid Flows in an MHD Channel -- 2.5. Quasi-One-Dimensional (Hydraulic) Approximation and Engineering Methods of Calculating Flow Parameters in an MHD Generator Channel -- Chapter 3 Characteristics of a Nonideal MHD Generator -- 3.1. Introduction -- 3.2. The Influence of Various Factors on the Characteristics of a Real MHD Generator -- 3.3. Simplified Model and Methods of Calculating Local Characteristics of an MHD Generator taking into Account Three-Dimensional Current Distribution in Channels -- 3.4. Nonideal Behavior of Large-Scale MHD Channels -- 3.5. Certain Aspects of Optimizing Parameters of an MHDGenerator -- 3.6. Conclusions -- Appendix -- Chapter 4 Plasma Diagnostics in MHD Generators -- 4.1. Introduction -- 4.2. Spectroscopic Diagnostics of Spatially NonuniformGas (Theory) -- 4.3. Spectroscopic Gas Temperature and Atom Concentration Measurements in Equilibrium MHD Generators -- 4.4. Feasibility of Diagnostics of Combustion Productswith Alkali Seed by Means of an HCN Laser -- 4.5. Local Measurement of the Electron Temperature with Cold Electric Probes -- Chapter 5 Phenomena in the Near-Electrode Region of a Constricted Discharge -- 5.1. Introduction -- 5.2. Present State of the Problem -- 5.3. Near-Cathode Region of Arc Discharge in Electrode Material Vapors.

5.4. Constricted Discharge on Metal Electrodes in an MHD Generator Channel.