Plasma backflow phenomenon in high-current vacuum arc

Abstract

Based on the two-temperature magnetohydrodynamic model, a high-current vacuum arc (HCVA) in vacuum interrupters is simulated and analysed. The phenomenon of plasma backflow in arc column is found, which is ultimately ascribed to the strong magnetic pinch effect of HCVA. Due to plasma backflow, the maximal value of ion density at the cathode side is not located at the centre of the cathode side, but at the paraxial region of the cathode side, that is to say, ion density appears to sag at the centre of the cathode side (arc column seems to be divided into two parts). The sag of light intensity is also found by experiments.