High energy electron production in plasma opening switches

Summary form only given. One of the practical difficulties of coupling a plasma opening switch to a bremsstrahlung diode, is the production of a small population of anomalously high energy electrons. These electrons are accelerated through a potential noticeably higher than that of the inferred opening switch voltage, and force an increase in the thickness of material used for the vacuum barrier in the system over that otherwise needed; thus reducing the radiation output through absorption of lower energy photons. We will present spatial and temporal measurements of these high energy electrons, and summarize our attempts to understand where and how they are produced and how they may be eliminated.