Numerical simulation of high-current discharges in pulsed plasma generators with energy storage inductors

In this paper, the results of numerical simulation of high-current discharges in pulsed plasma generators with inductive energy storage are presented. In one case, the circuits with capacitor banks, storage inductors and aluminum fuses for switching 100-300 kA currents into plasma loads have been considered. In the other case, discharges in facilities containing compact homopolar generators, energy storage inductors in conjunction with two-stage (mechanical and explosive) opening switches to generate output pulses in plasma channels with 10-20 /spl mu/s risetime and currents of 200-300 kA are analyzed. An approach to numerical simulation is described. The results obtained allow to agree the parameters of the pulsed generators with plasma load characteristics and evaluate the pulsed plasma generators operating efficiency.