Simulation of Magnetically Dispersed Arc Plasma

Abstract

Magnetically dispersed arc plasma[1] exhibits typically dispersed uniform arc column as well as diffusive cathode root[1,2] and diffusive anode root. In this paper magnetically dispersed arc plasma coupled with solid cathode is numerically simulated by the simplified cathode sheath model of LOWKE[3]. The numerical simulation results in argon show that the maximum value of arc root current density on the cathode surface is 3.5×107 A/m2, and the maximum value of energy flux on the cathode surface is 3×107 J/m2, both values are less than the average values of a contracted arc, respectively.