Current propagation between a plasma opening switch and a load during opening

During the initial stages of opening in a long-conduction-time (/spl sim/ps) plasma opening switch (POS), a current propagation phenomenon is observed between the POS and the load. In this paper, we review the experimental characterization of this current propagation phenomenon and summarize the models proposed to describe it. Our goal is to consider the physical scenario of POS operation, regardless to particular POS construction and parameters. At present moment, electron magnetohydrodynamics (EMHD) seems to be a good basis to describe the POS conduction phase which probably determines all the basic output characteristics of POS. Sometimes, however, the anomalous resistivity joins the game.