Experiments with nanosecond Plasma Opening Switch at the 1 MA current level

The investigation of the nanosecond Plasma Opening Switch (POS) operation with two type of load - short circuited and planar electron diode - was made. With the stored current of 600 kA 450 kA was switched in load inductivity of 15 nH with rise time 5 ns; POS voltage reached 1.3 MV and its impedance - 15 Ohm. With the electron diode load the unefficient turn-on of the diode cathode surface took place: we stored in this case the current of 800 kA through the switch, but the maximum diode current was not more than 300 kA. The duration of the current pulse in the diode measured by pin-hole was equal to 20-30 ns.