Patent ID: 7634042
Filing Date: 2009-12-15
Classification: H02J,H05H,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A pulsed power system for supplying pulsed power to a load, the pulsed power system comprising an inductive energy storage circuit including a current source and a plasma opening switch, the plasma opening switch having a transmission line coupling the current source to the load for supplying current to the load, the transmission line extending away from a first region toward a second region near the load, the plasma opening switch having a closed state and an open state, the plasma opening switch changing from the closed state to the open state when a plasma discharge in the plasma opening switch is driven by magnetic force from the first region toward the second region; wherein the pulsed power system includes electrical conductors arranged for providing a stabilizing magnetic field configuration in the first region to magnetically latch the plasma discharge in the first region during charging of the inductive energy storage circuit with current from the current source, and current flowing along the transmission line from the current source to the load tends to disrupt the stabilizing magnetic field configuration and unlatch the plasma discharge from the first region and drive the plasma discharge toward the second region; wherein the electrical conductors arranged for providing the stabilizing magnetic field configuration are in the inductive energy storage circuit and carry current from the current source to the plasma discharge when the plasma discharge is in the first region and the plasma switch is in the closed state; and wherein the electrical conductors arranged for providing the stabilizing magnetic field configuration include at least one electrical conductor in a first current path for carrying a first current component tending to magnetically force the plasma discharge toward the second region when the plasma discharge is in the first region, and at least one electrical conductor in a second current path for carrying a second current component tending to magnetically force the plasma discharge away from the second region when the plasma discharge is in the first region.