Current channel migration and magnetic field penetration in a perfectly conducting plasma with emitting, conducting boundaries

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Abstract
In collisionless simulations of the plasma erosion opening switch, a highly conductive plasma allows magnetic field penetration through the entire length of the plasma, to depths almost two orders of magnitude greater than the collisionless skin depth, c/ωpe. Field penetration is accomplished by a narrow (skin‐depth‐like) current channel that migrates through the plasma. The plasma behind the current channel is unable to shield the rising magnetic field from the body of the plasma and allows it to penetrate almost instantly and completely through the plasma up to the current channel. The migration of the channel and the penetration of the field appear to occur in the absence of both Coulomb collisions and instabilities. These unusual features are permitted by the electric field structure in the plasma behind the current channel and the presence of conducting boundaries that can emit electrons.