Plasma emission mechanism from duoplasmatron hydrogen Arc-theoretical model of the Arc

The mechanism of plasma emission from the duoplasmatron (DPT) is studied in terms of a model involving a "potential hump" and following the course of an ion (along the magnetic-field lines which are obtained by computational simulation) in moving towards and through the anode nozzle. The analysis of this model indicated the necessity for the "potential hump" in the arc and this corroborated the plasma potential measurements by single probe [14]. The plasma output is determined by the rate of production of ions, which is confined into the region defined by magnetic-field line on the anode side of the "potential hump." In view of this, estimated and measured values of the total output seem to be in good agreement. Therefore post-ionization in the anode cup as proposed by some researchers [8], [16] seems not to be necessary to account for the plasma output.