Long conduction time plasma erosion opening switch experiment

Abstract

A plasma erosion opening switch, coupled to a small capacitor bank, conducts 120 kA for 400 ns before opening in 40 ns. Voltages above 170 kV are produced through the use of an electron beam diode. These voltages exceed the initial capacitor bank voltage by a factor of 4. Current and magnetic field measurements indicate that the same current conduction and opening processes observed in earlier erosion switch experiments are involved here at tenfold greater conduction times, verifying the current controlled nature of plasma erosion switch operation.