Recent opening switch results on DECADE module 1

As part of a continuing effort to improve the performance of the DECADE simulator, we report on some recent experiments using the DM1 module (1.5 MA in 300 ns as configured). The purpose of these experiments was to investigate the sensitivity of the plasma opening switch (POS) operation to injected plasma symmetry, and to determine the magnitude of ion current losses in the POS region during switch opening.