Optical diagnostics methods of plasma current channels in plasma current open switches of the developed EMIR complex

Summary form only given, as follows. Technology development of electrophysical high-power and high-energy density facilities requires contactless methods of their parameters recording. Optical diagnostics, which were successfully applied for investigations of plasma open switches technologies, belong to these methods. Plasma current open switches (POS) with the level of transmitted current up to 2 MA and storage time 1-2 ms are studied. Investigations were performed both with a laboratory model and an explosive experiment. Current measurements were performed with fiber-optical Faraday current probes. the knowledge of the plasma channel cross-section and its dynamic characteristics is important for understanding of the POS operation. Preliminary data of the plasma channel geometry versus time and velocities of its movement, obtained with a fiber matrix, are presented. Dynamic plasma characteristics were studied with a Michelson interferometer on the wavelength of a Helium-Neon laser and fast photorecorder with time resolution of 100 ns. The data of the linear electron density at an optimum plasma injector operating regime are obtained.