Cathode sheath model of a vacuum arc with a nonmonotonic potential profile in the plasma near the cathode

Journal Article · Sat May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Plasma Physics Reports

OSTI ID:136395

Bolotov, A V; Kozyrev, A V; Korolev, Yu D

A physical model is presented for the cathode sheath of a vacuum arc with vaporizing cathode. The model is based on the idea that the potential has a local minimum at the external boundary of the cathode sheath. For a prescribed heat release and current density at the cathode the model allows the cathode potential drop, the cathode temperature, the electron temperature in the plasma, and the rate of cathode vaporization to be determined. Calculations are performed of the cathode sheath parameters for an arc with a current density 10-100 A/cm{sup 2} struck in gadolinium, chromium, and titanium vapors. Satisfactory agreement is obtained with available experimental data. 21 refs., 6 figs., 2 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 136395
• Journal Information: Plasma Physics Reports, Vol. 19, Issue 5; Other Information: PBD: May 1993; TN: Translated from Fiz. Plazmy.; 19, 709-719(May 1993)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION
INHOMOGENEOUS PLASMA
ION PLASMA WAVES
LOWER HYBRID HEATING
PLASMA DENSITY