Diffusion positive column of electric discharge in transverse magnetic field

Abstract

The effect of a transverse magnetic field on the characteristics of planar diffusion positive column of electric discharge has been studied. It is shown that, as the magnetic induction increases, the distributions of plasma density and particle fluxes to walls become asymmetric; the density maximum shifts in the direction of Ampere’s force action, and the ion flux in this force direction can significantly exceed the reverse flux. It is established that there is a maximum value of magnetic induction, which bounds from above the region of magnetic fields in which a stationary state of the positive column is possible. In the region where a stationary state of the positive column is possible, each value of the magnetic induction corresponds to two positive-column regimes with different values of the electron energy, drift velocity, and electric field strength.