Hall MHD simulation of plasma behaviour in an opening switch

Abstract

The numerical simulations of a plasma opening switch (POS) involve a lot of complex physical problems. Here the two temperature magnetohydrodynamic model (MHD) is used. The computations with such model are not so time consuming, as for the particle codes, and they give reasonable results. The effect of the Hall term in MHD equations is essential for correct physical description of the process. Another essential point is in the physically correct description of plasma-vacuum boundary, where the magnetic field detaches the plasma current carrier and passes to the load. The two stages can be separated in POS dynamics. The first one is conductivity, when plasma ports the current. It is well described by MHD equations. Second stage, the opening, can be described by MHD equation, but with the attentive analysis of applicability of such a model. The simulations were concentrated mainly on the different types of POS behaviour. Such an approach can be used for optimisation of the composite plasma configuration of POS, which had been proposed to be one of the possible ways of improvement of the POS performance.