Ignition of Self-Sustained Е×В Discharge; Ion Contribution to Understanding the Process

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Abstract

We determined critical values for the ignition voltage and magnetic induction for a self-sustained plasma discharge in crossed electric and magnetic fields, both at inert gases and in their mixtures. As parameters that enabled to visualize igniting an E×B discharge, we used the ion current and the induction current derivative, and provided the temporal characteristics for the process. We found a double structure of the ion current (discharge current) during the ignition. The working media initial state for the discharge current first jump is a neutral gas, whereas the working media initial state for the second jump is plasma. A peak of ions originated within the near-cathode area is detected on the energy distributions of the ions obtained during the ignition. Also detected is a wide ion energy spectrum related to the discharge gap. We show a various discharge ignition character for Penning pairs, when the gas changes its role (main or admixture) in the mixture. The character is determined by features of forming the electric potential distribution in the near-cathode layer.

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About the authors

N. A. Strokin

Irkutsk National Research Technical University

Author for correspondence.
Email: strokin85@inbox.ru
Russian Federation, Irkutsk

A. V. Rigin

Irkutsk National Research Technical University

Email: strokin85@inbox.ru
Russian Federation, Irkutsk

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Supplementary files

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2. Fig. 1. (a) - Scheme of the UAS discharge gap; (b) - example of distribution of the radial component of the magnetic field induction along the discharge gap; d = 6 mm; D = 10 mm; H ≈ 14 mm - area of electron emission from the cathode surface

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3. Fig. 2. Neon, infusion rate q = 120 sccm, Uig = 840 V, Big = 0.24 Tesla; curve 1 - signal from Rogowski belt; 2 - signal from ion sensor; time axis scale M = 250 μs/division

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4. Fig. 3. Left branches of E×B-discharge ignition curves in UAS at Uig ≈ 840 V: (a) - 1 - Kr (q = 5 sccm), 2 - Ar (q = 10 sccm), 3 - Ne (q = 60 sccm), 4 - Ne (q = 50 sccm); (b) - 1 - Kr, 2 - Ar, 3 - Ne. Here and further in all figures the parameter q is expressed in units of sccm (standard cubic centimetres per minute at density determined by standard conditions for temperature and pressure)

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5. Fig. 4. Left branches of ignition curves: 1 - Ne (q = 60 sccm) plus Kr, the rate of which was varied (q - var); 2 - Ne (q = 60 sccm) + Ar (q - var); Uig ≈ 825 V

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6. Fig. 5. (a) - set of left branches of ignition curves for mixtures of argon, krypton and neon: curve 1 - Kr (q = 3 sccm) + Ne (q = 30 sccm); 2 - Ar (q = 5 sccm) + Ne (q = 30 sccm); 3 - Kr (q = 3 sccm) + Ar (q = 3 sccm) + Ne (q = 40 sccm); (b) - Big = f(q) dependences: 1 - Kr (q = 7 sccm) + Ne (q - var); 2 - Ar (q = 10 sccm) + Ne (q - var); Uig ≈ 830 V

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7. Рис. 6. (а) — ионный ток в процессе зажигания Е×В-разряда: аргон (q = 5 sccm), dUЭЗП/dt = 2 В/30 мс, Uig = 940 В, ВIig = 0.145 Тл, ВIIig = 0.172 Тл; b — Big = f(Uig) для смеси Kr (q = 4 sccm) + Ne (q = 50 sccm): 1 — режим I (зажигание газ → плазма), 2 — режим II (зажигание плазма → плазма); (б) — Big = f(Uig) для Ne (q = 70 sccm): кривая 1 — газ–плазма (режим I), 2 — плазма–плазма (режим II)

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8. Fig. 7. Plasma potential in the near-cathode region, argon: (a) - P = 9 ⋅ 10-5 Torr, Ud = 1160 V; (b) - 1 - BK = 0.427 Tesla, Ud = 1160 V; 2 - BK = 0.45 Tesla, Ud = 670 V

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9. Fig. 8. (a) - ion current from the EEP collector; (b) - ion energy spectrum. Uig = 800 V, Big = 0.184 Tesla; argon, q = 12 sccm; dUEZP/dt = 10 V / 20 ms

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