Modeling of the Plasma Waveguide on the Basis of the Pulse-Periodic High-Pressure Cesium Discharge

Abstract

Modeling of the pulse-periodic high-pressure cesium discharge on the basis of the radiative gas dynamic equations is executed. Calculation results of radial profiles of the plasma temperature, energy losses on radiation, electron densities and radial velocity of motion are given to various instants from the beginning of a current pulse. It is shown that the discharge under study makes it possible to create almost completely ionized plasma in the hot near-axis area. In this area, electron density increases from the axis to the wall of the tube and the radial profile of concentration has a shape close to parabolic. The time of existence of a plasma waveguide is equal to tens of microseconds, its radius is about a millimeter and the electron density on its axis is about 10¹⁷–10¹⁸ cm^–3. Also, mechanisms of a plasma waveguide formation in the discharge are discussed in the paper.