Abstract

To better understand the arc plasma axial motion under an axial magnetic field, a high-speed charge-coupled device camera was used to observe the arc plasma images in a magnetically rotating arc plasma generator. Experimental results indicate that the arc plasma moves towards the cathode bottom as the magnetic field strength increases, while a higher arc current facilitates the cathode arc root to move to the cathode terminus. A two-dimensional coupled model was used to analyze the arc plasma axial motion under different magnetic field strengths. The numerical simulation shows that the arc plasma is axially compressed and curves towards the cathode bottom. It is proposed that the arc plasma structure is derived from the strong backflow from the anode outlet, which is induced by the low-pressure region near the cathode. Moreover, the coupled model predicts the movement of the cathode arc root in agreement with the experimental results. It is inferred that the movement of the cathode arc root is relevant to the energy flux, which is transported from the arc column plasma to the cathode surface.

中文翻译：

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磁旋转电弧等离子体发生器中电弧等离子体轴向运动的实验观察和数值分析

摘要

为了更好地了解轴向磁场下的电弧等离子体轴向运动，使用了高速电荷耦合器件照相机在磁旋转电弧等离子体发生器中观察电弧等离子体图像。实验结果表明，随着磁场强度的增加，电弧等离子体向着阴极底部移动，而较高的电弧电流则促进了阴极电弧的根向阴极末端的移动。使用二维耦合模型分析了不同磁场强度下电弧等离子体的轴向运动。数值模拟表明电弧等离子体被轴向压缩并向阴极底部弯曲。提出电弧等离子体结构源自阳极出口的强烈回流，该回流是由阴极附近的低压区域引起的。此外，耦合模型预测了阴极电弧根的运动，与实验结果一致。可以推断出，阴极电弧根的运动与能量通量有关，该能量通量从电弧塔等离子体传输到阴极表面。