Free-boundary vacuum arc plasma jet expansion in a curved magnetic field

A hydrodynamic model of free-boundary vacuum are plasma jet flow through a curved magnetic field has been developed. The plasma flow was modeled by so urceless steady-state equations, and the free boundary of the plasma was de termined as a part of the solution of the gas-dynamic equations, It was fou nd that the maximum plasma density shifts with respect to the centerline. T he shift is maximum at the 90 degrees guide exit plane and for the case of low magnetic field. The maximum increase in longitudinal plasma velocity al ong the duct was shown to be a factor of three, The plasma distribution wit hin the duct was analyzed experimentally using a deposition probe technique . The plasma jet expansion predicted by the model was compared with the exp eriment and a good qualitative agreement was found.