Precision timing solid state pulsed power systems used for injecting a coaxial plasma gun discharge into a pulsed fan-spine magnetic field*

Precision timing between two distinct pulsed power systems requires solid state switches in order to achieve high repeatability and reliability for the time constraints of this experiment. Traditional spark gaps used for pulsed power generation lack a repeatability of timing when it must be discharged at some delta T with respect to another discharge. In this case, a magnetic field is pulsed with ~1ms duration. The peak magnetic field forms after ~600us. The coaxial plasma gun (CPG) should be injected at the peak current of the pulsed magnetic field. This requires a precision repeatability of +/- 60us to be within 10% of the peak value of the magnetic field. Spark gaps do not have a reliability or repeatability within this defined window of discharge. In this study, we show how custom built solid state switch arrays can reliably and repeatedly generate a 0.5T magnetic field and inject a 6kv plasma into the magnetic field, inducing torsional magnetic reconnection. The system to charge, monitor, and time the discharges will be discussed. This work is in conjunction with University of Alabama, Huntsville with application in spacecraft propulsion and fusion energy science.