Study of Luminous Emission from a Coaxial Plasma Discharge Device in the Presence of External Transverse Magnetic Field

• Published in: Dian li yu neng yuan 2011-09, Vol.3 (4), p.444-449
• Main Authors: Allam, Tarek M., El-Sayed, Hanaa A., Soliman, Hanaa M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coiling; Devices; Diagnostic systems; Discharge; Electrodes; Emission analysis; Magnetic fields; Magnetic induction
• ISSN: 1949-243X; 1947-3818; 1947-3818
• DOI: 10.4236/epe.2011.34055

The experimental investigations in this paper are focused on the study of luminous radiation emission from coaxial plasma discharge device and the effect of applied transverse magnetic field B sub( tr) on it. The experiment was done in (1.5 KJ - 10 KV) coaxial plasma discharge device. The discharge is operated in Nitrogen gas at pressures from 1 to 2.2 torr. Helmholtz magnetic coils are placed outside the coaxial electrodes with its axis at a distance = 3 cm from the coaxial electrodes muzzle, then B sub( tr) with a maximum induction approximately 0.85 T is ap-plied perpendicularly to the expanded plasma from the coaxial electrodes muzzle. The diagnostics used in the measurements include a Rogowsky coil and a photomultiplier tube equipped with light collimator. The experimental results showed that the maximum intensity of luminous radiation is detected at axial distance (side view) z = 8 cm and gas pressure, P = 2.2 torr. It also showed that the maximum value of axial luminous plasma zone velocity = 2.383 10 super( 6) cm/s at z = 11 cm and P = 1.4 torr. In mode of presence of external B sub( tr), the investigations have shown that, at P = 1.4 torr the maximum intensity of luminous radiation (detected at end-view position) is reduced by 17%, the full width at half maximum, FWHM of luminous radiation signal is increased by 40 times, while the luminous radiation signal is delayed by t sub( a) = 438 mu s. In two modes of op-eration t sub( a) and FWHM have approximately a minimum values at P = 1.4 torr.