Quantitative characterization of arc discharge as vacuum interface

Journal Article · Mon Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2014 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4903462· OSTI ID:22407956

Huang, S.; Lu, Y. R.; Wang, S. Z. ^[1]; Hershcovitch, A. ^[2]; Yang, L.; Zhang, X. Y. ^[3]

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1. State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China)
2. Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973 (United States)
3. Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000 (China)

An arc discharge with channel diameters of 3 mm and 6 mm and lengths between 30 mm and 60 mm was experimentally investigated for its potential to function as plasma window, i.e., interface vacuum regions of different pressures. Electron temperature of the plasma channel measured spectroscopically varied in the range of 7000 K to 15 000 K, increasing with discharge current while decreasing with gas flow rate. That plasma window had a slightly positive I-V characteristics over the whole range of investigated current 30 A–70 A. Measurements of pressure separation capability, which were determined by input current, gas flow rate, discharge channel diameter, and length, were well explained by viscosity effect and “thermal-block” effect. The experimental results of global parameters including temperature, gas flow rate, and voltage had a good agreement with the simulation results calculated by an axis-symmetry Fluent-based magneto-hydrodynamic model.

• OSTI ID: 22407956
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 21, Issue 12; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
AXIAL SYMMETRY
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
GAS FLOW
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PLASMA
SIMULATION
SPECTROSCOPY