Unmagnetized fireballs in the hollow cathode geometry

Fireballs in the hollow cathode geometry are studied using the self-consistent two-dimensional Particle-in-Cell Monte Carlo collision model. The generation of two fireballs located inside and outside the cathode is obtained. These two fireballs have different parameters and are supported by different physical mechanisms. Namely, the fireball inside the cathode is supported by the hollow cathode effect, while the fireball outside the cathode is supported by the electron beam injected through the cathode orifice and accelerated in the sheath separating two fireballs. The influence of the cathode voltage on the discharge parameters is analyzed. The saturation of the discharge current at high voltages is obtained, which is attributed to the influence of the discharge voltage on the electron beam energy relaxation length.

[1]  R. Schrittwieser,et al.  Spectral and electrical diagnosis of complex space-charge structures excited by a spherical grid cathode with orifice , 2017 .

[2]  R. Schrittwieser,et al.  Experimental investigations of the nonlinear dynamics of a complex space-charge configuration inside and around a grid cathode with hole , 2016 .

[3]  M. Agop,et al.  On the interaction between two fireballs in low-temperature plasma , 2015 .

[4]  M. Fröhlich,et al.  Coupling of transit time instabilities in electrostatic confinement fusion devices , 2015 .

[5]  V. Kolobov,et al.  Glow discharges with electrostatic confinement of fast electrons , 2015 .

[6]  J. Gruenwald.  On the dispersion relation of the transit time instability in inverted fireballs , 2014 .

[7]  D. Levko,et al.  Two-dimensional model of orificed micro-hollow cathode discharge for space application , 2013 .

[8]  R. Schrittwieser,et al.  Pulsed, unstable and magnetized fireballs , 2012 .

[9]  R. Schrittwieser,et al.  Transit time instabilities in an inverted fireball. II. Mode jumping and nonlinearities , 2011 .

[10]  R. Schrittwieser,et al.  Transit time instabilities in an inverted fireball. I. Basic properties , 2011 .

[11]  N. Hershkowitz,et al.  Equilibrium states of anodic double layers , 2009 .

[12]  R. Schrittwieser,et al.  Dynamics of fireballs , 2008 .

[13]  A. Lichtenberg,et al.  Principles of Plasma Discharges and Materials Processing: Lieberman/Plasma 2e , 2005 .

[14]  D. Grote,et al.  The WARP Code: Modeling High Intensity Ion Beams , 2005 .

[15]  R. Merlino,et al.  On anode spots, double layers and plasma contactors , 1991 .

[16]  M. Raadu.  The physics of double layers and their role in astrophysics , 1989 .

[17]  A. V. Phelps,et al.  Measurement of free-free emission from low-energy-electron collisions with Ar , 1983 .

[18]  A. Hasegawa.  Introduction to Plasma Instabilities , 1975 .