Current distribution in a plasma erosion opening switch

Weber, B.V.; Commisso, R.J.; Meger, R. A.; Neri, J. M.; Oliphant, W. F.; Ottinger, P. F.

doi:10.1063/1.95056

Cited by 83 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 8 publications

(1 reference statement)

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“…Early theories characterizing the plasma pushing by the force and describing the magnetic field penetration by classical diffusion disagree with observations. Noticeably, observations have shown rapid magnetic field penetration much faster than predicted by classical diffusion based on the plasma resistivity [11]- [15]. Other theories [16]- [18] have shown that nonuniformity in the plasma, giving rise to a varying Hall electric field, may result in an enhanced magnetic field penetration.…”

mentioning

confidence: 94%

On the Role of the Plasma Composition in the Magnetic Field Evolution in Plasma Opening Switches

Osin

Doron

Arad

et al. 2004

IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.

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Abstract-High spatial-and temporal-resolution spectroscopic methods are employed to perform detailed studies of the interaction between the propagating magnetic field and a multi-ion-species plasma. The experiment is performed in a plasma-opening-switch configuration, in which a 150-kA current of 400 ns duration is conducted through a plasma. Recent observations demonstrated a new phenomenon of simultaneous rapid magnetic field penetration into the heavy-ion plasma and specular reflection of the light-ion plasma, leading to ion-species separation. Additionally, noticeable inconsistencies between experimental results and theories were found. The current paper summarizes these recent results and discusses the aspect of the role of the plasma composition in the magnetic field evolution and ion dynamics. In order to systematically investigate the effect of the plasma composition, a method for producing plasmas with controllable compositions, based on spatial species separation and electrode heating, is presented. This method allows for achieving plasmas with varying proton-to-carbon ion ratios, however, at different electron densities. Measurements are described for studying the relation between the magnetic field propagation velocity and the plasma composition and density; however, this relation is not yet satisfactorily clear.Index Terms-Magnetic field-plasma interaction, multi-ion species plasma, plasma devices, plasma spectroscopy.

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mentioning

confidence: 94%

On the Role of the Plasma Composition in the Magnetic Field Evolution in Plasma Opening Switches

Osin

Doron

Arad

et al. 2004

IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.

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“…Previous experimental investigations showed two main phenomena: a fast magnetic field penetration through the entire plasma [4], [5] and a fast increase of the switch impedance [1], [2]. The first phenomenon is explained within the framework Manuscript received August 7, 1997; revised December 15, 1997.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fast increase of the POS impedance is assumed to be associated with the anomalous fast magnetic field penetration [4] and the formation of a nonneutral layer [10] in the vicinity of the cathode or inside the plasma.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Energetic electron and ion beam generation in plasma opening switches

Krasik

Weingarten

1998

IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.

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Abstract-In this paper, we present measurements of ion and electron flows in a nanosecond plasma opening switch (NPOS) and a microsecond plasma opening switch (MPOS), performed using charge collectors. In both experiments, an electron flow toward the anode, followed by an ion flow, were observed to propagate downstream toward the load side of the plasma during the plasma opening switch (POS) conduction. In the MPOS, ion acceleration was observed to propagate axially through the entire plasma. These results are in satisfactory agreement with the predictions of the electron magneto-hydrodynamics (EHMD) theory and the results of fluid and particle-in-cell (PIC) code simulations. At the beginning of the POS opening, a high-current density ( 2 kA/cm 2 ) short-duration (10-30 ns) axial ion flow downstream toward the load was observed in both experiments, with an electron beam in front of it. These ions are accelerated at the load side of the plasma and are accompanied by comoving electrons. In the NPOS, the ion energy reaches 1.35 MeV, whereas in the MPOS, the ion energy does not exceed 100 keV. We suggest that in the NPOS the dominant mechanism for the axial ion acceleration is collective acceleration by the space charge of the electron beam, while in the MPOS, axial ion acceleration is probably governed by the Hall field in the current carrying plasma.Index Terms-Acceleration, electron beams, Hall effect, inductive energy storage, ion beams, plasmas, power generation, pulse power system switches.

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“…The plasma opening switch is a laboratory device designed to provide the appropriate power conditioning for inductive, pulsed, high-power generators [8,9,10,13,14,17]. A schematic of an opening switch is shown in Fig.…”

Section: Plasma Opening Switchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The theory has been successfully applied to the structuring of sub-Alfvénic plasma expansions [1,2,3,4,5,6,7] and to rapid magnetic field transport in plasma opening switches [8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17]. In recent years it has become evident that Hall physics plays a critical role in magnetic reconnection processes [18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36] and this has spurred renewed interest in this subject.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hall Magnetohydrodynamics - A Tutorial

Huba

Lecture Notes in Physics

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Abstract. Over the past fifteen years it has become increasingly clear that Hall magnetohydrodynamics plays a crucial role in many space and laboratory plasma processes: magnetic reconnection, sub-Alfénic plasma expansions, and plasma opening switches to name a few. Hall magnetohydrodynamics is important for plasma dynamics on length scales less than the ion inertial scale length but greater than the electron inertial length. On these scales the ion and electron motions are decoupled; the electrons remain frozen to the magnetic field but the ions are not. In this paper we provide a basic overview of Hall magnetodydrodynamics with an emphasis on numerical methods. We also provide several concrete examples of Hall dynamics: whistler waves, Hall drift waves, plasma opening switch dynamics, and three dimensional magnetic reconnection.

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Current distribution in a plasma erosion opening switch

Cited by 83 publications

References 8 publications

On the Role of the Plasma Composition in the Magnetic Field Evolution in Plasma Opening Switches

On the Role of the Plasma Composition in the Magnetic Field Evolution in Plasma Opening Switches

Energetic electron and ion beam generation in plasma opening switches

Hall Magnetohydrodynamics - A Tutorial

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