On plasma jet formation in vacuum arc with composite cathode

Abstract

This paper deals with the computer modeling of vacuum arc with composite multicomponent cathode. This arc is typical for certain kind of ion sources, plasma generator and vacuum interrupters. The described hybrid model treats the electrons as an inertialess fluid and ions as macroparticles. The macroparticle dynamic is calculated with the use of particle-incell method. Ion-ion Coulomb collision is considered with the use of Monte Carlo method. The model can simulate vacuum arc as a whole including separate cathode plasma jets, mixing zone, and common plasma column. The dependence of ion angular current distribution on the cathode composition reproduced with the help of developed model agrees well with experimental results.