Operation and empirical modeling of the plasma opening switch

Rix, W.; Parks, D. E.; Shannon, John M.; Thompson, J.; Waisman, E.

doi:10.1109/27.106838

Cited by 57 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 5 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The global density reduction during the conduction phase indicates that current conduction in this experiment is limited by hydrodynamic motion, as suggested in Ref. [5]. Even though the magnetic force is primarily in the axial direction, it is the radial redistribution of the switch plasma that controls conduction.…”

Section: Density Redistribution In a Microsecond-conduction-time Plassupporting

confidence: 62%

“…At some point, depending on the details of the POS and the driving current, this conduction phase ends and the switch opens, transferring energy to a load. Over the past decade much attention has been directed toward microsecond-conduction-time POS development [2][3][4][5][6][7]. This technology has promise for the development of compact, multi-TW, multi-MA generators.…”

Section: Density Redistribution In a Microsecond-conduction-time Plasmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This technology has promise for the development of compact, multi-TW, multi-MA generators. In experiments to date switches have conducted MA-level peak currents for -1 |*s before opening in tens of ns [4][5][6]. Magnetic probe measurements (discussed below) show that large-scale translation of the current-carrying plasma toward the load does not occur, indicating a relatively high (--10 15 -10 16 cm -3 ) plasma density.…”

Section: Density Redistribution In a Microsecond-conduction-time Plasmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Density redistribution in a microsecond-conduction-time plasma opening switch

et al. 1992

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The first measurements of the line-integrated electron density in a coaxial microsecond-conductiontime plasma opening switch during switch operation are presented. Current conduction is observed to cause a radial redistribution of the switch plasma, with a large decrease in axial line density over most of the radial extent of the switch. A local reduction in line density of more than an order of magnitude occurs by the time opening begins. It is hypothesized that this density reduction allows the switch to open by an erosion mechanism. Initial numerical modeling efforts have reproduced the principal observed results. PACS numbers: 52.75.Kq, 52.40.Hf, 52.65,+z, 52.70.KzPulsed power generators that use inductive energy storage techniques offer potential benefits for producing TW and higher electrical power pulses [1]. Applications for such generators include inertial confinement fusion and the production of intense x-ray pulses. A plasma opening switch [1] (POS) allows the use of vacuum inductive storage for the generation of such high power pulses. A POS consists of plasma injected between two conductors in vacuum, through which current flows, storing magnetic energy in the circuit. At some point, depending on the details of the POS and the driving current, this conduction phase ends and the switch opens, transferring energy to a load. Over the past decade much attention has been directed toward microsecond-conduction-time POS development [2-7]. This technology has promise for the development of compact, multi-TW, multi-MA generators. In experiments to date switches have conducted MA-level peak currents for -1 |*s before opening in tens of ns [4-6]. Magnetic probe measurements (discussed below) show that large-scale translation of the current-carrying plasma toward the load does not occur, indicating a relatively high (--10 15 -10 16 cm -3 ) plasma density. This high density makes the observed, rapid opening of the switch difficult to explain. We report here the first quantitative, nonperturbing, in situ measurements of the plasma electron density during POS operation. The electron density is measured using heterodyne-phase-detection HeNe interferometry. These measurements indicate that the plasma mass is rarified during the conduction phase. Based on these observations, we propose a mechanism by which current conduction is limited and opening occurs.A schematic of the experiment, on the Hawk generator [8], is shown in Fig. 1. The coaxial switch geometry comprises a 5-cm-radius center-conductor cathode and an array of twelve axial anode rods at a radius of 7.5 cm. A short-circuit load is located 25 cm beyond the switch. Plasma is injected by eighteen flashboards positioned at an 18-cm radius. Each dashboard consists of an array of surface discharges across a carbon-coated insulator. A mask outside the anode rods shields all but the 8-cm-long switch region from the injected plasma. The flashboards are typically pulsed 1 to 2 ^s before the generator is fired. Electrical diagnostics include sets of dB/dt loops at the...

show abstract

Section: Density Redistribution In a Microsecond-conduction-time Plassupporting

confidence: 62%

Section: Density Redistribution In a Microsecond-conduction-time Plasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Density Redistribution In a Microsecond-conduction-time Plasmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Density redistribution in a microsecond-conduction-time plasma opening switch

et al. 1992

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…1) has been extensively investigated for over two decades. It uses an injected plasma to conduct current from a high-voltage pulsedpower generator for time scales ranging from tens of nanoseconds 2 up to a microsecond, [3][4][5][6] then open on faster time scales to increase the peak power capabilities of the generator. An important area of research related to plasma opening switches involves understanding the relationship between the injected plasma parameters and the duration of the conduction phase.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of the conduction phase of a plasma opening switch using a hydrogen plasma

Moschella¹,

Vidoli²,

Yadlowsky³

et al. 2005

Physics of Plasmas

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A 2D numerical modeling is best for this purpose but this was outside the aims of the present program. For a very rough estimate, using the Child-Langmuir Law for spacecharge limited flow in plane geometry, 17 and for a current in excess of 20 kA, a corresponding voltage in excess of 1 MV is predicted. On the other hand, the measurement of voltage across the load using the V-dot sensor of Fig.…”

Section: Results With the Complete Tesla-pfl-pos Generatormentioning

confidence: 99%

A Tesla-pulse forming line-plasma opening switch pulsed power generator

Novac

Kumar

Smith

2010

Review of Scientific Instruments

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A pulsed power generator based on a high-voltage Tesla transformer which charges a 3.85 Ω/55 ns water-filled pulse forming line to 300 kV has been developed at Loughborough University as a training tool for pulsed power students. The generator uses all forms of insulation specific to pulsed power technology, liquid (oil and water), gas (SF6), and magnetic insulation in vacuum, and a number of fast voltage and current sensors are implemented for diagnostic purposes. A miniature (centimeter-size) plasma opening switch has recently been coupled to the output of the pulse forming line, with the overall system comprising the first phase of a program aimed at the development of a novel repetitive, table-top generator capable of producing 15 GW pulses for high power microwave loads. Technical details of all the generator components and the main experimental results obtained during the program and demonstrations of their performance are presented in the paper, together with a description of the various diagnostic tools involved. In particular, it is shown that the miniature plasma opening switch is capable of reducing the rise time of the input current while significantly increasing the load power. Future plans are outlined in the conclusions.

show abstract

Operation and empirical modeling of the plasma opening switch

Cited by 57 publications

References 5 publications

Density redistribution in a microsecond-conduction-time plasma opening switch

Density redistribution in a microsecond-conduction-time plasma opening switch

Characterization of the conduction phase of a plasma opening switch using a hydrogen plasma

A Tesla-pulse forming line-plasma opening switch pulsed power generator

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About