Publications Details
An analysis of data from a test of PBFA-2 (Particle Beam Fusion Accelerator-2) plasma opening switch geometries on Blackjack 5
The Plasma Opening Switch (POS) designed for use on PBFA-2 was operated on the Blackjack 5 generator at Maxwell Laboratories in early 1988. Various switch configurations were tested, with the overall goal of understanding the point at which the switch begins to open, and improving uniformity of opening. Improved load current rate-or-rise and current transfer into high impedance loads were also goals. A baseline-design POS appears to have produced results similar to those seen in an earlier test series of this hardware on Blackjack 5 in 1986. Addition of a second-stage opening switch yielded improvements in the areas mentioned above. Analysis of current signals indicates that switch opening in all geometries was characterized by significant power flow asymmetry downstream of the POS. This report is an analysis of data from this test series.