Electrical processes in the end regions of a MHD duct with segmented electrodes

A theoretical analysis is presented for the electrical fields and currents in the flow of an anisotropic conducting plasma under the assumption of stepped variation of the magnetic field in the end regions of ideally segmented electrodes. Riemann boundary problem is used to obtain an analytical solution to relevant electrodynamic equations. This solution is then applied to the calculation of the current density. Estimates of the energy characteristics of the duct are determined as a function of conditions where the electrodes are characterized by constant current, constant voltage, or constant-value resistances.