Plasma gate switch experiment on Pegasus II

Abstract

The plasma gate switch is a novel technique for producing a long conduction time vacuum opening switch. The switch consists of an aluminum foil which connects the cathode to the anode in a coaxial geometry. The foil is designed so that the maximum axial acceleration is in the center of the foil and that at the appropriate time, the center opens up and magnetic flux is carried down the gun to the load region. The switch is designed to minimize the amount of mass transported into the load region. The authors have completed the first experimental test of this design and present results from that test. These results indicate there were some asymmetry problems in the construction of the switch but that otherwise the switch performed as expected.