Enhanced load current delivery from the SHIVA star vacuum inductive store/plasma flow switch

The SHIVA Star device is a 1313- mu F, 120-kV capacitative storage device capable of storing 9.4-MJ electrical energy. The experimental operating voltage is 90 kV. An increased current delivery from the SHIVA Star capacitor band to a plasma-flow-switch-driven cylindrical foil load is reported. Modification of a plasma-flow-switch electrode produces a current delivery that is a factor of two better than the best previous comparable efforts. Peak driving current is 12.3 MA; the peak load current is over 9.4 MA. At peak load current, driving current is 11.2 MA for a current delivery of 85% or more. Current delivery in the experimental system is reported. The modification specified entails partially closing the outflow electrode of a plasma-flow switch.<
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