Characterization of a microsecond-conduction-time plasma opening switch

This paper presents data and analyses from which emerges a physical picture of microsecond‐conduction‐time plasma opening switch operation. During conduction, a broad current channel penetrates axially through the plasma, moving it toward the load. Opening occurs when the current channel reaches the load end of the plasma, far from the load. During conduction, the axial line density in the interelectrode region is reduced from its value with no current conduction as a result of radial hydrodynamic forces associated with the current channel. A factor of 20 reduction is observed at opening in a small, localized region between the electrodes. When open, the switch plasma behaves like a section of magnetically insulated transmission line with an effective gap of 2 to 3 mm. Increasing the magnetic field in this gap by 50% results in an improvement of 50% in the peak load voltage and load current rise time, to 1.2 MV and 20 nsec, respectively. An erosion opening mechanism explains the inferred gap growth rate using the reduced line density at opening. Improved switch performance results when the maximum gap size is increased by using a rising load impedance.This paper presents data and analyses from which emerges a physical picture of microsecond‐conduction‐time plasma opening switch operation. During conduction, a broad current channel penetrates axially through the plasma, moving it toward the load. Opening occurs when the current channel reaches the load end of the plasma, far from the load. During conduction, the axial line density in the interelectrode region is reduced from its value with no current conduction as a result of radial hydrodynamic forces associated with the current channel. A factor of 20 reduction is observed at opening in a small, localized region between the electrodes. When open, the switch plasma behaves like a section of magnetically insulated transmission line with an effective gap of 2 to 3 mm. Increasing the magnetic field in this gap by 50% results in an improvement of 50% in the peak load voltage and load current rise time, to 1.2 MV and 20 nsec, respectively. An erosion opening mechanism explains the inferred gap growth rate u...

[1]  S. Nakai,et al.  Pulsed Power Compression Research by Vacuum Opening Switch at ILE Osaka , 1987, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[2]  R. Sudan,et al.  A FLUID MODEL FOR ELECTRON DYNAMICS IN THE VACUUM GAP OF A PLASMA OPENING SWITCH , 1991 .

[3]  J. M. Neri,et al.  Plasma Opening Switch Development for the Particle Beam Fusion Accelerator II (PBFA II) , 1987, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[4]  P. J. Turchi,et al.  Review of Plasma Flow Switch Development , 1987, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[5]  I. V. Lisitsyn,et al.  Experimental investigation on the conduction phase of the microsecond plasma opening switch , 1990, 1990 8th International Conference on High-Power Particle Beams.

[6]  C. W. Mendel,et al.  A general theory of magnetically insulated electron flow , 1983 .

[7]  J. Goyer.  A conduction model for PEOS operation incorporating simplified cathode sheath effects , 1991 .

[8]  D. Colombant,et al.  A Self-Similar Model for Conduction in the Plasma Erosion Opening Switch , 1987, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[9]  S. E. Rosenthal,et al.  A simple theory of magnetic insulation from basic physical considerations , 1983 .

[10]  Jones,et al.  Magnetic field penetration of erosion switch plasmas. , 1988, Physical review letters.

[11]  D. Colombant,et al.  A Simple Model for Flashboard Plasma Expansion , 1987, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[12]  Robert A. Meger,et al.  Vacuum inductive store/pulse compression experiments on a high power accelerator using plasma opening switches. Memorandum report , 1983 .

[13]  A. Drobot,et al.  Numerical simulation of a low‐density plasma erosion opening switch , 1986 .

[14]  J. W. Poukey,et al.  Electron beam generation in plasma-filled diodes , 1975 .

[15]  Two-Dimensional MHD Simulations of Magnetic Field Penetration in the Plasma Opening Switch , 1987, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[16]  J. Grossmann,et al.  Modeling of dynamic bipolar plasma sheaths , 1992 .

[17]  R. Mason,et al.  Current channel migration and magnetic field penetration in a perfectly conducting plasma with emitting, conducting boundaries , 1989 .

[18]  E. Waisman,et al.  Switching of low density diode plasmas , 1985 .

[19]  R. Kulsrud,et al.  Analysis of anomalous resistivity during the conduction phase of the plasma erosion opening switch: Interim report , 1988 .

[20]  R. Stringfield,et al.  Plasma erosion switches with imploding plasma loads on a multiterawatt pulsed power generator , 1981 .

[21]  J. Thompson,et al.  Operation and empirical modeling of the plasma opening switch , 1991 .

[22]  J. R. Boller,et al.  Plasma erosion opening switch research for ICF , 1987 .

[23]  M. Roche,et al.  Fast Opening Switch Application to Inductive Energy Storage and Theoretical Study of This Technology for 14-MeV Neutron Burst Production , 1987, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[24]  L. Rudakov,et al.  Self‐similar magnetic field penetration of a homogeneous collisionless plasma due to electron velocity advection , 1992 .

[25]  C. W. Mendel,et al.  A fast‐opening switch for use in REB diode experiments , 1977 .

[26]  S. Nakai,et al.  Pulse Power Compression by Fast Opening Switch , 1984 .

[27]  J. M. Neri,et al.  Plasma Erosion Opening Switch Research at NRL , 1987, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[28]  P. Hoppe,et al.  A Summary of Experimental Results from Inductive Store Pulse Compression Experiments with Plasma Opening Switches on the Pulse Power Generators Pollux and KALIF , 1987, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[29]  Implicit Collisional Three-Fluid Simulation of the Plasma Erosion Opening Switch , 1987 .

[30]  Robert A. Meger,et al.  Theoretical modeling of the plasma-erosion opening switch for inductive-storage applications , 1984 .

[31]  Shyke A. Goldstein,et al.  Ion-induced pinch and the enhancement of ion current by pinched electron flow in relativistic diodes , 1975 .

[32]  Irving Langmuir,et al.  Currents Limited by Space Charge between Coaxial Cylinders , 1923 .

[33]  J. M. Neri,et al.  Current distribution in a plasma erosion opening switch , 1984 .

[34]  R. Kulsrud,et al.  Investigation of collisional effects in the plasma erosion opening switch , 1988 .

[35]  Gerald Cooperstein,et al.  The Gamble I Pulsed Electron Beam Generator , 1973 .

[36]  J. R. Boller,et al.  Long conduction time plasma erosion opening switch experiment , 1986 .

[37]  Y. Krasik,et al.  Computer Simulation of High-Power Ion Beam Generation Using the Plasma Erosion Opening Switch and Microsecond Store Systems , 1987, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[38]  D. Mosher,et al.  Fluid Simulation of the Conduction Phase of the Plasma Erosion Opening Switch , 1987, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[39]  G. Mesyats,et al.  Microsecond Plasma Opening Switches , 1987, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[40]  J. Kellogg,et al.  Investigation of plasma opening switch conduction and opening mechanisms , 1991 .

[41]  A. Fruchtman.  Penetration and expulsion of magnetic fields in plasmas due to the Hall field , 1991 .

[42]  J. R. Boller,et al.  High Voltage, High Power Operation of the Plasma Erosion Opening Switch. , 1987 .