Transport of vacuum arc plasma through straight and curved magnetic ducts

Journal Article · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Journal of Applied Physics; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.343711· OSTI ID:5174897

Storer, J ^[1]; Galvin, J E; Brown, I G ^[2]

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1. 3M, St. Paul, Minnesota 55144 (USA)
2. Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 (USA)

We report on an experimental investigation of the transport of a metal vapor vacuum arc plasma through straight and curved magnetic solenoids for the case of an iron plasma and for magnetic field strength up to 650 G. We find that the fraction of plasma transported increases with magnetic field strength and saturates at a field at which the ion gyroradius equals the radius of the plasma channel. The magnetic field strength at the cathode location, where the plasma is injected into the solenoid, was found to be important, and for the present work the injection efficiency optimizes at a field of about 150 G.

• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 5174897
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics; (USA) Vol. 66:11; ISSN 0021-8979; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700103* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Kinetics
CATHODES
CHARGED-PARTICLE TRANSPORT
ELECTRIC COILS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRODES
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
FURNACES
GASES
IRON
MAGNETIC FIELDS
METALS
PLASMA
RADIATION TRANSPORT
SOLENOIDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VACUUM FURNACES
VAPORS