Electrodynamics of a microsecond plasma opening switch

Abstract

Dynamics of a plasma opening switch (POS), operating like a plasma piston and of a microsecond POS are numerically studied. Dependance of the conduction phase time versus both a number of particles in a plasma bridge cross-section and an electron magnetization value (Hall parameter) near a cathode is found. Results of modeling indicate, that the phenomena of rarefied gap production could be described in the frame of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) with account of the Hall effect, without using the erosion theory.