Investigation of plasma opening switch conduction and opening mechanisms

Weber, B.V.; Commisso, R.J.; Goodrich, P.J.; Grossmann, J. M.; Hinshelwood, D.D.; Kellogg, J.C.; Ottinger, P. F.

doi:10.1109/27.108411

Cited by 56 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Parallel flat-plate transmission lines t 1 and t 2 are used in the circuit, and a plane-to-cylindrical adaptor of fishtail geometry couples the second stage of conditioning, that includes the PEOS, to the second transmission line. Figure 2 shows the construction of the PEOS [6], in which three flash boards coated with carbon paint [7] inject plasma through 100 mm long 50 mm wide brass gauze-covered windows cut in a 95 mm inside diameter aluminium cylinder (the anode) to fill the space between this and a 45 mm diameter inner cylinder (the cathode). The switch opens when a current passing along the cylinders and through the plasma reaches a threshold value, causing the plasma to erode away from the cathode surface, with consequent transfer of the current to the load circuit.…”

Section: The Experimental Arrangementmentioning

confidence: 99%

A two-stage exploding-foil/plasma erosion opening switch conditioning system

Stewardson¹,

Novac²,

Miran³

et al. 1997

J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys.

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When a load requiring a very fast rising current is fed from a flux-compression generator, it is necessary to introduce a conditioning circuit in order to reduce the rise time of the generator output current substantially. The final stage of this circuit will include a plasma erosion opening switch, which is the fastest known opening switch for use at the current levels involved. This paper presents results obtained during the development of a novel two-stage conditioning circuit and compares the experimental performance of the circuit with results provided by a computer simulation. A time compression of the rise time of the currents from microseconds to less than 100 ns was obtained, representing a 40-fold increase in the corresponding signals.

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Section: The Experimental Arrangementmentioning

confidence: 99%

A two-stage exploding-foil/plasma erosion opening switch conditioning system

Stewardson¹,

Novac²,

Miran³

et al. 1997

J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys.

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“…Short conduction switches in the GAMBLE II machine [36] have produced TW pulses, conducting currents in excess of 1 MA and opening to voltages as large as 4.5 MV in only 10 ns. Short conduction switches in the GAMBLE II machine [36] have produced TW pulses, conducting currents in excess of 1 MA and opening to voltages as large as 4.5 MV in only 10 ns.…”

Section: Opening Switchesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pulsed Power Applications

Dougal¹,

Brown²,

Händel³

1996

Handbook of Vacuum Arc Science and Technology

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“…Plasma erosion opening switches (PEOSs) involve the erosion of an auxiliary conducting plasma channel positioned in parallel to the load. 9,10 These devices were first investigated as a means to reduce current pre-pulse into diode experiments. 11,12 PEOSs will often exhibit some flow switch behaviour, as the eroding plasma channel will be, to some extent, swept along the power feed by the J Â B force.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterisation of the current switch mechanism in two-stage wire array Z-pinches

et al. 2015

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In this paper, we describe the operation of a two-stage wire array z-pinch driven by the 1.4 MA, 240 ns rise-time Magpie pulsed-power device at Imperial College London. In this setup, an inverse wire array acts as a fast current switch, delivering a current pre-pulse into a cylindrical load wire array, before rapidly switching the majority of the generator current into the load after a 100–150 ns dwell time. A detailed analysis of the evolution of the load array during the pre-pulse is presented. Measurements of the load resistivity and energy deposition suggest significant bulk heating of the array mass occurs. The ∼5 kA pre-pulse delivers ∼0.8 J of energy to the load, leaving it in a mixed, predominantly liquid-vapour state. The main current switch occurs as the inverse array begins to explode and plasma expands into the load region. Electrical and imaging diagnostics indicate that the main current switch may evolve in part as a plasma flow switch, driven by the expansion of a magnetic cavity and plasma bubble along the length of the load array. Analysis of implosion trajectories suggests that approximately 1 MA switches into the load in 100 ns, corresponding to a doubling of the generator dI/dt. Potential scaling of the device to higher current machines is discussed.

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Investigation of plasma opening switch conduction and opening mechanisms

Cited by 56 publications

References 7 publications

A two-stage exploding-foil/plasma erosion opening switch conditioning system

A two-stage exploding-foil/plasma erosion opening switch conditioning system

Pulsed Power Applications

Characterisation of the current switch mechanism in two-stage wire array Z-pinches

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