Particle simulation study of hall magnetic field penetration in plasma erosion opening switch

A 2-1/2D cylindrical full electromagnetic particle-in-cell code is used to simulate magnetic field penetration in plasma erosion opening switch. The simulation results show that the penetrat ion of magnetic field into plasma is due to Hall field on the condition that the characteristic Hall length is small compared with the ion collisionless skin depth. Strong two dimensional effect on the field penetrating speed should be included in the fluid analysis for a plasma space distribution with high density gradient. The region where the magnetic field has penetrated shows no neutral characteristic, and the electric field can accelerate ions to the cathode and form the vacuum sheath.