The results of the studies of surface plasma sources with an ФЭР-7 optical photochronograph and a double electric probe are presented. The designs of radial and axial plasma generators are described. It is shown that a radial SPS does not ensure satisfactory reproducibility of the plasma flow parameters from pulse to pulse, which influences the operation stability of plasma opening switches. Based on data obtained experimentally, a modernized axial plasma generator was constructed. Studies of plasma flows with a double electric probe have shown that, at equal energy contributions to the plasma generator, the probe's current density increases by a factor of four. The use of an axial surface plasma source on the SIGNAL (high-current pulse generator for laser pumping) installation with a plasma opening switch resulted in the front sharpening of the load current pulse (∼200–220 kA) from 60 ns obtained in earlier experiments to 30 ns for the same current amplitude.
