Experimental observation of a wedge-shaped density shock in a plasma opening switch

We present the first two-dimensional picture of the plasma electron density perturbation generated in a plasma opening switch by the current-driven magnetic field. A fast electron density increase propagates with different velocities both radially and axially, and has a clearly apparent wedgelike shape. The local plasma density drop at the load plasma edge lags behind the magnetic field exit to the downstream region. The experimental result can be attributed to a specific shock wave, where the Hall-effect-driven field penetration causes a 2D plasma density redistribution.