SIMULATION AND ANALYSIS OF THE LOW-VOLTAGE ARC MODE IN PLASMA DIODES.
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to develop an understanding of the physical phenomena governing the behavior of plasma diodes operating in the low-voltage arc mode through the development of analytic and computer models which make use of the available experimental data. Two approaches are taken. The first one is a Monte Carlo simulation of the low-voltage arc mode on a digital computer to determine the nature of the thermalization and transport phenomena in the discharge. The second approach is a reaction rate analysis to determine the relative importance of the various ionization and loss mechanisms active in the discharge. The Monte Carlo simulation is a two-dimensional computer experiment in which a large random sample of the electrons and ions in the diode is tracked in a self-consistent manner under the influence of their mutual space-charge forces and collisions with neutral atoms. In the reaction rate analysis, Langmuir probe data and atomic physics data are combined to yield the spatial variations of various excitation, ionization and loss mechanisms and of the densities of metastable and resonance state atoms. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0814901
Entities
Organizations
- University of Michigan