Hall MHD and PIC modeling of the conduction-to-opening transition in a plasma opening switch

Summary form only given. By utilizing the fast opening of a plasma opening switch (POS), inductive energy storage devices may generate high power (>1 TW) and short duration (<0.1 /spl mu/s) pulses, ideal for driving intense beam diodes or Z-pinches. The use of 10/sup 15/ to 10/sup 16/ cm/sup -3/ density plasma switches has allowed an extension of the conduction time to above 1 /spl mu/s while still allowing a rapid opening time (few tens of ns). An understanding of the plasma redistribution during the POS conduction phase can be gained with MHD modeling and simulation. However, MHD methods are not valid during the opening and power delivery phases since space-charge separation and kinetic effects are expected to play a key role. If the plasma density at opening is sufficiently low, the opening and power delivery phases can be treated by the particle-in-cell (PIC) method. In this paper we will discuss progress in developing methods to smoothly transition from an MHD treatment of the conduction phase to a PIC treatment of the opening and power delivery phases.