Analysis of anomalous resistivity during the conduction phase of the plasma erosion opening switch

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.866662· OSTI ID:5303851

Kulsrud, R M; Ottinger, P F; Grossmann, J M

During the conduction phase of the plasma erosion opening switch, the current channel width, in the body of the plasma away from the electrodes, has been observed to be many times wider than the collisionless skin depth. Anomalous collisions have been invoked to explain this discrepancy. Here the problem is analyzed using an electrostatic Vlasov approach, and an unstable ion acoustic mode is identified. The derived growth rate is fast enough and the nonlinear saturation level is high enough to explain the observed magnetic field penetration.

• Research Organization: Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375
• OSTI ID: 5303851
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Vol. 31:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
PLASMA
ION ACOUSTIC WAVES
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PLASMA SWITCHES
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
BOLTZMANN-VLASOV EQUATION
COLLISIONAL PLASMA
COLLISIONLESS PLASMA
ELECTRODES
ELECTROSTATICS
EROSION
INSTABILITY GROWTH RATES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA EXPANSION
SATURATION
CURRENTS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUATIONS
EQUIPMENT
EXPANSION
ION WAVES
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PLASMA WAVES
SWITCHES
420800* - Engineering- Electronic Circuits & Devices- (-1989)