Accession Number:

ADA193135

Title:

Analysis of Anomalous Resistivity during the Conduction Phase of the Plasma Erosion Opening Switch.

Descriptive Note:

Memorandum rept.,

Corporate Author:

NAVAL RESEARCH LAB WASHINGTON DC

Personal Author(s):

• Kulsrud, R.
• Ottinger, P. F.
• Grossmann, J. M.

Report Date:

1988-02-02

Pagination or Media Count:

30.0

Abstract:

During the conduction phase of the plasma erosion opening switch, the current channel width in the body of the plasma away from the electrodes has been observed to be many times wider than the collisionless skin depth. Anomalous collisions have been invoked to explain this discrepency. Here the problem is analyzed using an electrostatic Vlasov approach and an unstable ion acoustic mode is identified. The derived growth rate is fast enough and the nonlinear saturation level is high enough to explain the observed magnetic field penetration. Keywords Vacuum opening switch Acoustic instability Anomalous resistivity.

Descriptors:

• *ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE
• *PLASMAS(PHYSICS)
• *VACUUM SWITCHES
• ACOUSTICS
• ANOMALIES
• CHANNELS
• CONDUCTIVITY
• ELECTRODES
• EROSION
• GROWTH(GENERAL)
• IONS
• MAGNETIC FIELDS
• NONLINEAR SYSTEMS
• OPENING(PROCESS)
• PENETRATION
• RATES
• SATURATION
• STABILITY

Subject Categories:

• Electrical and Electronic Equipment
• Plasma Physics and Magnetohydrodynamics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE