Instability Analysis of Formation of Multiple Arc Anode Attachments

ORAL

Abstract

To understand the origin of the multiple arc-anode attachments and the origin of the restrike behavior in the anode region of high intensity arcs, linear stability analyses of a non-uniform singly-ionized argon plasma and of the arc-anode interface are performed. The short characteristic times of such anode phenomena allow significant simplification and linearization of the governing equations, from which dispersion relations of the plasma are obtained. According to the calculations, we propose that the electron overheating instability and the anode evaporation-ionization instability are responsible for the formation of these anode phenomena. The electron overheating instability, which generates an electron temperature run-away situation, is excited by small-amplitude fluctuations in the plasma with specific combination of current flow, electric field, electron temperature and electron density. The vaporation-ionization instability, which leads to current run-away in a small area, is encouraged by large electric fields accelerating electrons towards the anode. The regions of these instabilities are identified with our experimental measurements. The results show that the multiple arc-anode attachments form in the fringes of the arc, and that the restrike behavior starts from flow instabilities, which bring high electron temperature cloud to the anode surface. Observations to the anode surface confirm the analysis results.

–

Authors

  • Guang Yang

    University of Minnesota

  • John B. Boffard

    Nagoya University, Nagoya Univ., NU-Eco Eng, Meijo Univ., Aichi Inst. Tech., Tohoku Univ., Univ.of Tokyo, Saitama Univ., Saitama Small Enterprise Prom. Corp., Dept. of Biomed. Eng., Musashi Inst. of Technol., Air Force Research Laboratory, WPAFB, OH, WVU, Morgantown, WV, Department of Physics, Old Dominion University, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, Institut f\'ur Niedertemperatur Plasmaphysik, Greifswald, Germany, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands, Dept. of Physics, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar, School of EPS - Chemistry, Heriot-Watt University, UK, School of Pharmacy and iEPSAM, Keele University, UK, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, UK, Plasma \& Surface Analysis Division, Hiden Analytical Ltd., UK, Institute of Physics, Belgrade, Serbia, School of Electrical Engineering, Belgrade, Serbia, Katagiri Engineering, Meijo University, Dong-A University, UES, Dayton, OH, AFRL, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia, West Virginia University, Charles University in Prague, Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., USTHB, LECTCM, PO. Box 32 El Alia, BabEzzouar, Algiers, Algeria, CDTA, Department of Physics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, Innovative Scientific Solutions, Inc., Dayton, OH, Department of Physics, KAIST and Courant Institute, NYU, Department of Physics, KAIST, Centre for Antimatter-Matter Studies, Australian National University, Canberra, Centre for Antimatter-Matter Studies, SoCPES, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia, Center for Plasma Science and Technology, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, University of Missouri-Rolla, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Australian National University, Max-Planck-Institute for Nuclear Physics, Applied Materials, Sandia National Laboratories, Lam Research Corporation, UC Berkeley, Prometheus Energy Company, Army Research Laboratory, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, University of Pittsburgh, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Berkeley Research Associates, Commonwealth Technologies, Inc., Naval Research Laboratory, Philips Lighting (CDL), Eindhoven, The Netherlands, Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd., Faculty of Systems Engineering, Wakayama University, Department of Electrical Engineering, Nagoya University, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany, Queens University Belfast, Northern Ireland, Katagiri Engineering Co., Ltd., NU EcoEngineering Co., Ltd., NU System Co., Ltd., Wakayama University, Department of Physics, California State University, Fullerton, CA 92834, USA, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech, MS 183-601, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA, Old Dominion University, NIE and Institute of Advanced Studies, Nanyang Technological University, The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee - 247667, India, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany, University of Antwerpen, B-2020 Antwerpen, Belgium, Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia, Tokyo Electron, Hokkaido University, OSRAM GmbH, Munich, Germany, INP Greifswald, Germany, Departamento de Fisica, Universidade da Madeira, Largo do Municipio, 9000 Funchal, Portugal, Ruhr-University Bochum, RSPhysSE, ANU, Australia, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, Ecole Polytechnique, France, Nanotechnology Research Institute, University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, Institute for Plasma and Atomic Physics, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany, DF, UM, Braga, Auburn University, Research group PLASMANT, Dep. of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Belgium, Open University, University of Glasgow, Dept. of Physics \& Astronomy, Kelvin Building, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK, EM2C, Ecole Centrale, LPTP, Ecole Polytechnique, France, State University, St Petersburg, INP-Greifswald, Ecole Polytechnique, Queen`s University Belfast, Institute of Physics Belgrade, University of Ulster, University of Duisburg-Essen, Applied Materials, Inc., LPTP, Ecole Polytechnique, Kyoto University, Center for Plasma Science and Technology, Ruhr-Universtity Bochum, Germany, Centre for Plasma Physics, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, University of Minnesota, Dublin City University, Institute for Theoretical Electrical Engineering, Ruhr-University Bochum, Institute for Plasma and Atomic Physics, Ruhr-University Bochum, National Centre for Plasma Science and Technology, Dublin City University, Ireland, Centre for Plasma Science and Technology, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, University of Manchester