Dynamic contraction of the positive column of a self-sustained glow discharge in air flow
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544 (United States)
- Institute for Problems in Mechanics, RAS, Moscow (Russian Federation)
- Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742 (United States)
We study the dynamic contraction of a self-sustained glow discharge in air in a rectangular duct with convective cooling. A two dimensional numerical model of the plasma contraction was developed in a cylindrical frame. The process is described by a set of time-dependent continuity equations for the electrons, positive and negative ions; gas and vibrational temperature; and equations which account for the convective heat and plasma losses by the transverse flux. Transition from the uniform to contracted state was analyzed. It was shown that such transition experiences a hysteresis, and that the critical current of the transition increases when the gas density drops. Possible coexistence of the contracted and uniform state of the plasma in the discharge, where the current flows along the density gradient of the background gas, is discussed.
- OSTI ID:
- 22251862
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 21, Issue 3; 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
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