Experimental Investigation Of Explosive-Driven Plasma Compression Opening Switches

Abstract

Plasma compression opening switch techniques are being developed for use in explosive driven magnetic flux compression generator applications. A new test bed for performing low cost experimentation is described. Experiments with MA/cm linear current density in the switch have achieved resistance increases of a factor of 10 in a few hundred nanoseconds. Peak field strengths of 30 kV/cm are generated in these tests. Data are presented from preliminary tests that indicate reduced pressure in the plasma cavity enhances switch performance.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1983
Accession Number
ADA639081

Entities

People

  • Jasmes H. Goforth
  • R. S. Caird

Organizations

  • Los Alamos National Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Pressure
  • Barometric Pressure
  • Capacitors
  • Compression
  • Current Density
  • Electric Fields
  • Electrodes
  • Energy
  • Explosives
  • Generators
  • Geometry
  • High Explosives
  • High Pressure
  • Magnetic Flux
  • New Mexico
  • Power Supplies
  • Test Beds

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Plasma Physics.