Plasma Opening Switch Performance In A Radial Geometry

Plasma Opening Switches (POS) can be used to perform vacuum power conditioning for compact accelerators based on inductive energy storage. The characteristics of a microsecond conduction time radial disk geometry POS have been determined. POS performance data was obtained from both the ACE 2 accelerator, using a 240 kV, 1 MJ Marx with a 1.3/spl mu/s quarter period and the ACE 3 accelerator, using a 720 kV, 2 MJ Marx with a 1.5 /spl mu/s quarter period. The active POS area was an annular region where power flow converged radially inward. In the ACE 2 experiments a single POS provided switching while in the ACE 3 experiments two back-to-back POS provided parallel switching. Plasma for the POS was injected through a transparent anode by flashboards. POS performance into both short circuit and low impedance e-bearn loads are described.