Home – Home – Jornals – Thermophysics and Aeromechanics 2002 number 1

The results of experimental investigations of electron concentration distribution in a cathode cavity and charge column, of plasma potential on a column axis, of electron temperature in the column are presented, as well as the topograms of equipotential surfaces and the lines of equal temperatures of electrons. The analysis of the obtained characteristics allowed to determine the reasons of localization of the most heated region of the cathode inside the cavity and the dependencies of temperature maximum position on electric current and plasma-forming gas flow rate, and the mechanism of self-maintaining of the region of maximum potential decline inside the cathode hollow where the main power is supplied into the discharge plasma; this analysis also permits to clarify the role of the plasma-forming gas and its flow rate in generating the processes progressing in a high-current arc discharge with the hollow cathode, and the reasons of high spatial stability of a plasma column in the inter-electrode space and plasma column orientation on the cathode axis.