Thin free arcs in alkali-seeded noble gases

Author

Stefanov, Boris ; Veefkind, Abraham ; Zarkova, Lydia

Author_Institution

Inst. of Electron. of the Bulgarian Acad. of Sci., Sofia, Bulgaria

Volume

17

Issue

1

fYear

1989

fDate

2/1/1989 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

51

Lastpage

59

Abstract

Thin arcs (e.g. those observed in noble gas magnetohydrodynamic generators) are analyzed. The spatial distributions of the important plasma quantities are calculated by solving the appropriate balance equations. Solutions are obtained for cesium-seeded argon as well as for pure argon. The solutions yield characteristic radial dimensions which are in agreement with known experimental values. The effects of variations of important arc parameters are discussed in the case of cesium-seeded argon. It appears that the effects of the parameter variations can be explained to a large extent by a simplified expression for the radial dimension of the arc. Deviation from local thermodynamic equilibrium is only significant in the outer region of the arc and has practically no influence on the arc properties

Keywords

arcs (electric); argon; caesium; plasma magnetohydrodynamics; plasma simulation; thermodynamics; Ar; Ar:Cs; alkali-seeded noble gases; arc properties; balance equations; cesium-seeded argon; effects of variations; local thermodynamic equilibrium; magnetohydrodynamic generators; outer region; plasma quantities; pure argon; radial dimensions; spatial distributions; thin free arcs; Argon; Electrons; Equations; Gases; Magnetic analysis; Magnetohydrodynamic power generation; Plasma density; Plasma temperature; Temperature distribution; Thermodynamics;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/27.21672

Filename

21672