Experiments With Plasma Opening Switch On SNOP-3 Generator

The recent experiments with POS, operating in nanosecond regime applied to 0.5 TW accelerator are described with different loads (electron or ion diodes, inductive load). The accelerator parameters in negative pulse polarity are⁽¹⁾ 0.7 MV, 0.7 Ohm impedance, 60 ns pulse duration. The POS with 90% transparent squirrel cage, 160 mm diameter anode used the flashboard plasma source installed at diameter of 320 mm, having 4 sections with 3 rows each of spark gaps. The plasma ion flow density provided 150 A/cm² with 10-15 cm/μs velocity. With inductive load of 15 nH the voltage enhancement reached factor of 2, the POS impedance - 15 Ohm. With the plasma-filled electron diode the voltage amplitude equaled to 1.5 MV, switched current up to 400 kA, the load pulse duration measured by pin diode - 20-30 ns. The ion beam generation was realized in pinch-reflex diode. The results of ion beam density and trajectories measurements in focal plane are given.