Pulsed plasma engine and method

A pulsed plasma engine, comprising an axially extending explosion chamber having open ends and a generally cylindrical side wall, a pair of electrodes within the chamber, means for introducing a noncombustible gas into the chamber, means for ionizing the gas to form a plasma within the chamber, means for applying an electrical pulse to the electrodes to produce heating of the plasma when the pulse is turned on and an explosive pressure pulse when the electrical pulse is turned off, and magnets disposed coaxially of the chamber on opposite sides of the electrodes for creating an axially extending magnetic field within the chamber for confining the plasma and directing the pressure pulse toward the open ends of the chamber.

A method of operating an engine to drive an output member, comprising the steps of:

• introducing a noncombustible gas into an explosion chamber which communicates with the output member, ionizing the gas to form a plasma within the chamber, applying an electrical pulse to the plasma to heat the plasma, turning off the pulse to produce an explosive pressure pulse in the plasma, and magnetically confining the plasma in the chamber and directing the pressure pulse toward the output member.