Experimental investigation of the conduction phase of the microsecond plasma opening switch

Results of experimental studies of the conduction phase of the microsecond plasma opening switch are presented. It is shown that during this phase, translation of the current channel in the plasma near the anode takes place with anomalously high velocity. The ion component of the current reaches 25-30% of the total value, and the current streamlines late in the conduction phase acquire a considerable slant in the axial direction. The ion current behind the current channel makes up more than 30% of the total current there. The ion current density reaches a maximum during the conduction phase and decreases slowly during switching