Plasma opening switch conduction scaling

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.871018· OSTI ID:165755

Weber, B V; Commisso, R J; Goodrich, P J; Grossmann, J M; Hinshelwood, D D; Ottinger, P F; Swanekamp, S B ^[1]

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1. Pulsed Power Physics Branch, Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375-5000 (United States)

Plasma opening switch (POS) experiments performed on the Hawk generator [Commisso {ital et} {ital al}., Phys. Fluids B {bold 4}, 2368 (1992)] (750 kA, 1.2 {mu}s) determine the dependence of the conduction current and conduction time on plasma density, electrode dimensions, and current rise rate. The experiments indicate that for a range of parameters, conduction is controlled by magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) distortion of the plasma, resulting in a low density region where opening can occur, possibly by erosion. The MHD distortion corresponds to an axial translation of the plasma center-of-mass by half the initial plasma length, leading to a simple scaling relation between the conduction current and time, and the injected plasma density and POS electrode dimensions that is applicable to a large number of POS experiments. For smaller currents and conduction times, the Hawk data suggest a non-MHD conduction limit that may correspond to electromagnetohydrodynamic (EMH) field penetration through the POS plasma. {copyright} {ital 1995} {ital American} {ital Institute} {ital of} {ital Physics}.

• OSTI ID: 165755
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 2; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRODES
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA SWITCHES
SCALING LAWS