Statistical Simulation on the Random and Retrograde Motion of Single Cathode Spot of Vacuum Arc

Abstract

In this paper, a two-dimensional statistical model for a single cathode spot of vacuum arc with copper cathode has been established to simulate its random walk and retrograde motion under external transverse magnetic field. In this preliminary work, a parameter, k, which was not yet related with the strength of applied transverse magnetic field in present work, was used to denote the different probabilities of cathode spot motion in Amperes direction and retrograde direction. With this model, the distribution of the probability density of cathode spot occurring in different area on cathode surface was simulated at different arcing time.