Numerical simulation of time evolution of two-dimensional free burning plasma arc column

A numerical simulation method of time evolution of two-dimensional free bur ning plasma are column is presented. The method used a rectangular crisscro ss grid system for space and an implicit Euler backward difference scheme f or time. The stable temperature field, the electrical current field and the variation of velocity field of gas with time have been obtained. A periodi c shock wave has been found to propagate in the gas. The velocity of the sh ock wave is about 700-1000 m/s, varying with space. This result agrees with the unstable phenomena of plasma are columns.