Abstract
Arc heaters are important items of equipment for ground thermal appraisal of space probes returning to Earth. However, cathodes of arc heaters are seriously ablated, which limits the appraisal. Micro multi-electrode technology is characterized by multiple spots, which has the potential to reduce cathode ablation. In order to develop this technology, Cu–LaB6 alloys were prepared by using a hot press sintering furnace with a LaB6 content of mol. 0.03%–1% and average particle size of 18-60 μm. The influence of current, discharge distance, LaB6 content, LaB6 size and magnetic field on the arc spot mode was studied. The similarity parameter of the arc spot mode was analyzed. The arc spot has three modes: single-spot mode (SSM), multi-spot mode (MSM) and branched-spot mode (BSM). With the increase in the discharge current, the arc spot changes in the order of the BSM, the MSM and the SSM. With the increase in the discharge distance, the arc spot changes in the opposite order. Increasing the content or decreasing the size of LaB6 can make the MSM region move in the direction of decreasing current and increasing discharge distance. A model for arc spot transition is proposed. The change of the arc spot from the MSM to the BSM is related to the arc constriction.
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