Plasma Source for a Miniature and Repetitive Plasma Opening Switch

Many modern applications of pulsed power, such as industrial food processing, pollution control and compact radiation sources for the defence industry require a simple, reliable, repetitive table-top high-power source. Although Marx generators are commonly used, a much simpler technical solution is to couple a single high-voltage capacitor with a repetitive and miniaturized plasma opening switch (POS). Loughborough University has recently begun an investigation into this area of technology, and the paper presents the first results obtained relating to the development of a plasma gun source for the POS, with various diagnostic techniques being employed to characterize the properties of the plasma.