Review on Magnetic Reluctance Launcher: Principle, Type, and Critical Technology

A magnetic reluctance launcher is an electromagnetic launching device based on the principle of minimum magnetic reluctance in ferromagnetic materials under a magnetic field to accelerate projectiles. It is suitable for lightweight and portable launching scenarios, has significant application potential, and has attracted extensive research interest. However, there is currently a lack of systematic reviews on theoretical foundations, common technologies, and development directions. This paper, for the first time, employs numerical simulation to present the spatial and temporal distribution of the magnetic field in the launcher and elaborates on the process of magnetic reluctance decrease and magnetic flux increase. Combined with the Maxwell stress tensor, this approach provides an intuitive and quantitative description of the principle of minimum magnetic reluctance. Then, this paper systematically analyzes the fundamental structures and performance characteristics of the capacitor-driven high-power type and the battery-driven high-rate-of-fire type. On this basis, four critical technologies of the magnetic reluctance launcher are reviewed and discussed: high-safety and high-power-density energy-storage battery technology; high-speed and high-reliability projectile feeding mechanism; efficient circuit topologies with timely response; and system optimization and control methods. Finally, the application prospects and development directions of magnetic reluctance launchers are discussed. This research provides valuable insights into the system design and engineering advancement of magnetic reluctance launchers.