Title :
Conduction phase to opening phase transition in the plasma opening switch
Author :
Grossmann, J.M. ; Swanekamp, S.B. ; Commisso, R.J. ; Goodrich, P.J. ; Hinshelwood, D.D. ; Huba, J.D. ; Ottinger, P.F. ; Weber, B.V.
Author_Institution :
Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA
Abstract :
The transition between the conduction phase and opening phase of a long-conduction-time plasma opening switch (POS) is examined with the aid of numerical simulations. Evidence of three physical mechanisms is observed: magnetic pressure, magnetic field transport, and gap erosion resulting from ion acceleration out of electrostatic potential hills. Gap erosion occurs in the radial middle of the POS where the quantity B2/n is at its largest.
Conference_Titel :
High-Power Particle Beams, 1994 10th International Conference on
Conference_Location :
San Diego, CA, USA
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-1518-2
