Numerical simulation and experiment on atmospheric arc in external and self magnetic fields

Summary form only given, as follows. Experiments on interaction of atmospheric pressure arcs with external DC and oscillating magnetic fields have been conducted at PPPL. The studies can have important implications with regard to understanding of arc deflection and instabilities in industrial devices, such as arc furnaces. Good qualitative agreement with experiment has been achieved with a simple analytical two parameter model for the behavior in steady-state. The model gives unexpectedly high values for the mass density of the arc plasma. We will present the results of extending the model to a numerical simulation with the inclusion of the terms of viscous drag and self magnetic field interaction. Additionally, the improved model will be applied to the study of the spontaneous arc instability observed previously. The experimental setup consists of a 100-500 Amp DC arc struck in air between a point-like graphite cathode and a large-area molten iron anode. The plasma is diagnosed with a short-exposure intensified camera and voltage and current monitors.