Discharge Axis Research Articles

Study of the Effect of Decrease in the Conductivity Ahead of a Shock Wave in a Glow-Discharge Plasma

The electrical conductivity of a glow-discharge plasma ahead of a shock wave moving perpendicularly to the discharge axis has been investigated using a double electric probe. The obtained results have shown that the interaction of the shock wave with the glow-discharge plasma is accompanied by a change in its conductivity in the entire investigated volume simultaneously.

A method and apparatus for high-throughput controlled synthesis of fullerenes and endohedral metal fullerenes

A method for synthesis of carbon nanostructures in a high-frequency arc discharge in the flow of helium (3–4 L/min) is presented. It is shown that the plasma-chemical synthesis of fullerenes and endohedral metal fullerenes (EMFs) can be controlled by changing helium pressure in the chamber. Temperature and electron concentration along the line normal to the discharge axis decrease upon moving away from the axis to the periphery; the larger the pressure, the sharper is the decrease in these parameters. The optimal helium pressure of 98 kPa was found in obtaining the Gd@C82 EMF which corresponds to the maximal EMF yield of 5 wt %.

Suprathermal electrons in a vacuum spark discharge

Results of experiments on the detection of suprathermal electron beams in the plasma of a highcurrent low-inductance vacuum spark by means of space-resolved spectral X-ray polarimetry are presented. It is shown that the observed polarization of bremsstrahlung may be caused by an ~100-keV electron beam propagating along the discharge axis from the pinching region toward the anode. The influence of the discharge initiation conditions on the parameters of the generated electron beams is analyzed.

Numerical and experimental study of the dynamics of a μs helium plasma gun discharge with various amounts of N2 admixture

This paper presents a combined 2D numerical and experimental study of the influence of admixture on the dynamics of a He– discharge in the 10 cm long dielectric tube of a plasma gun set-up. First, the comparison between experiments and simulations is carried out on the ionization front propagation velocity in the tube. The importance of taking into account a detailed kinetic scheme for the He– mixture in the simulations to obtain a good agreement with the experiments is put forward. For the μs driven plasma gun, the two- and three-body Penning reactions occurring in the plasma column behind the ionization front, are shown to play a key role on the discharge dynamics. In the experiments and simulations, the significant influence of the amplitude of the applied voltage on the ionization front propagation velocity is observed. As the amount of varies, simulation results show that the ionization front velocity, depends on a complex coupling between the kinetics of the discharge, the photoionization and the 2D structure of the discharge in the tube. Finally, the time evolution of axial and radial components of the electric field measured by an electro-optic probe set outside the tube are compared with simulation results. A good agreement is obtained on both components of the electric field. In the tube, simulations show that the magnitude of the axial electric field on the discharge axis depends weakly on the amount of conversely to the magnitude of the off-axis peak electric field. Both, simulations and first measurements in the tube or within the plasma plume show peak electric fields of the order of 45 kV·cm−1.

Self-Organization of a Laminar Structure of a Normal Glow Discharge

The behavior of a glow discharge at low pressures is considered. A combined experimental and theoretical method for determining the distributions of electron and ion concentrations in the discharge chamber is proposed. It is shown that the concentrations of charged particles in the negative glow rise not due to the intense ionization by fast electrons from the cathode regions, but instead due to the slowing down of their drift motion. The use of an experimental curve of the potential distribution along a discharge chamber and account of the nonlocal dependence of the Townsend coefficient on the electric field strength have allowed obtaining the distribution of the electric field strength and determining the exact character of variation in the concentration of charged particles along the discharge axis.

Investigation of the helicon discharge plasma parameters in a hybrid RF plasma system

Results of an experimental study of the helicon discharge plasma parameters in a prototype of a hybrid RF plasma system equipped with a solenoidal antenna are described. It is shown that an increase in the external magnetic field leads to the formation of a plasma column and a shift of the maximum ion current along the discharge axis toward the bottom flange of the system. The shape of the plasma column can be controlled via varying the configuration of the magnetic field.

A Criticality Analysis of the GBC-32 Dry Storage Cask with Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant Unit 3 Fuel Assemblies from the Viewpoint of Burnup Credit

Nuclear criticality safety analyses (NCSAs) considering burnup credit were performed for the GBC-32 cask. The used nuclear fuel assemblies (UNFAs) discharged from Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant Unit 3 Cycle 6 were loaded into the cask. Their axial burnup distributions and average discharge burnups were evaluated using the DeCART and Multi-purpose Analyzer for Static and Transient Effects of Reactors (MASTER) codes, and NCSAs were performed using SCALE 6.1/STandardized Analysis of Reactivity for Burnup Credit using SCALE (STARBUCS) and Monte Carlo N-Particle transport code, version 6 (MCNP 6). The axial burnup distributions were determined for 20 UNFAs with various initial enrichments and burnups, which were applied to the criticality analysis for the cask system. The UNFAs for 20- and 30-year cooling times were assumed to be stored in the cask. The criticality analyses indicated that k eff values for UNFAs with nonuniform axial burnup distributions were larger than those with a uniform distribution, that is, the end effects were positive but much smaller than those with the reference distribution. The axial burnup distributions for 20 UNFAs had shapes that were more symmetrical with a less steep gradient in the upper region than the reference ones of the United States Department of Energy. These differences in the axial burnup distributions resulted in a significant reduction in end effects compared with the reference.

The Planck’s character and temperature of visible radiation of a pulse-periodic discharge in cesium vapor

The radiation spectrum of pulse-periodic discharge in cesium vapor has been simulated in the framework of a two-temperature multifluid radiative gasdynamic model. It is established that, at a broad range of vapor pressures, the discharge spectrum exhibits a Planck character in a significant part of the visible spectral interval, which accounts for the high quality of color rendering in the discharge radiation. The relation between color temperature Tc and electron temperature T0 on the discharge axis is determined by radial optical thickness τR of the plasma column: Tc ≈ T0 at τR ≈ 1, Tc T0 at τR > 1. As the vapor pressure increases from 83 to 1087 Torr, color rendering index Ra of the discharge radiation changes from 95 to 98 and the color temperature grows from 3600 to 5200 K.

Characteristics of capillary discharge upon adding metal atoms to plasma

Capillary discharge with a metal atom content in the plasma is investigated. Spectroscopy was used to study the discharge under interaction with metal foils. The temperature distribution at the discharge axis was obtained. The autonomous domains are fixed in the area of the jet interaction with the aluminum foil. The conditions of the occurrence of such plasma domains are discussed.

Ligament rupture and unstable burst behaviors of axial flaws in steam generator U-bends

Incidents of U-bend cracking in steam generator (SG) tubes have been reported, some of which have led to tube rupture. Experimental and analytical modeling efforts to determine the failure criteria of flawed SG U-bends are limited. To evaluate structural integrity of flawed U-bends, ligament rupture and unstable burst pressure tests were conducted on 57 and 152mm bend radius U-bends with axial electrical discharge machining notches. In general, the ligament rupture and burst pressures of the U-bends were higher than those of straight tubes with similar notches. To quantitatively address the test data scatter issue, probabilistic models were introduced. All ligament rupture and burst pressures of U-bends were bounded by 90% lower limits of the probabilistic models for straight tubes. It was concluded that the prediction models for straight tubes could be applied to U-bends to conservatively evaluate the ligament rupture and burst pressures of U-bends with axial flaws.

Time- and spatially resolved emission spectroscopy of the dielectric barrier discharge for soft ionization sustained by a quasi-sinusoidal high voltage

A helium capillary dielectric barrier discharge was investigated by means of time-resolved optical emission spectroscopy with the aim of elucidating the process of the formation of the plasma jet. The helium emission line at 706 nm was utilized to monitor spatial and temporal propagation of the excitation of helium atoms. The discharge was sustained with quasi-sinusoidal high voltage, and the temporal evolution of the helium atomic emission was measured simultaneously with the discharge current. The spatial development of the plasma was investigated along the discharge axis in the whole region, which covers the positions in the capillary between the electrodes as well as the plasma jet outside the capillary. The high voltage electrode was placed 2 mm from the capillary orifice, and the distance between the ground and high voltage electrode was 10 mm. The complete spatiotemporal grid of the development of the helium excitation has shown that during the positive half-period of the applied voltage, two independent plasmas, separated in time, are formed. First, the early plasma that constitutes the plasma jet is formed, while the discharge in the capillary follows subsequently. In the early plasma, the helium atom excitation propagation starts in the vicinity of the high voltage electrode and departs from the capillary towards the ground electrode as well as several millimeters outside of the capillary in the form of the plasma jet. After relatively slow propagation of the early plasma in the capillary and the jet, the second plasma starts between the electrodes. During the negative voltage period, only the plasma in the capillary between the electrodes occurs.

Numerical Modelling Point-to-Plane of Negative Corona Discharge in N2 Under Non-Uniform Electric Field

The paper presents a simulation model of the negative corona discharge in N2 under various pressures. The simulated discharge is of a negative point-to-plane mass type, with an inter-electrode separation distance of 20 mm and a symmetry about the axis of discharge. This simulation investigates the behavior of the neutral density and temperature for different pressures in the range of 0.1–10.0 bar. The spatial and temporal evolution of the neutral gas is analyzed based upon the equations of continuity, momentum and energy in a two-dimensional cylindrical geometry model. For that geometry of the system, the FCT (Flux Corrected Transport) technique was adopted. The results show that the pressure plays a significant role of the neutrals dynamics.

Obtaining electricity by direct transfer of charge generated in corona discharge

We have studied the possibility of generating electricity directly by using the charge that is created in a corona discharge and transferred by airflow in the direction perpendicular to the discharge axis. Results of experimental measurements and theoretical estimations confirm this possibility. The electric power output from corona discharge in experiment was on the order of 10−3 W, which is about one-tenth of the theoretical limit. It is proposed to use this effect for creating wind-driven generators.

Measurements of electric discharge characteristics in NaCl solution

The characteristics of electric discharge in a NaCl solution with a specific concentration of up to ∼1.7% (electrical conductivity up to 0.032 Sm/cm) are investigated. The discharge is produced by the Era-1 discharger in a vessel filled with water or a NaCl solution. We obtain the dependences of the maximal discharge current, pressure pulse, and the pressure amplitude at the shock front at a distance of 7 cm from the discharge axis on the electrolyte concentration.

Model of glow discharge between an electrolytic anode and a metal cathode

The results of the numerical simulation of the glow discharge between the pin cathode and the electrolytic anode are presented. The electron concentration distribution for the different distances from the anode were calculated. The 2D distribution is calculated for the equipotential lines between the steel cathode and the electrolytic anode. The essentially nonuniform character of the electric field strength distribution along the discharge axis was discovered. The obtained distribution of the electric field strength between the metal cathode and the electrolytic anode is in a good qualitative agreement with the results of the experiments realized in the similar conditions.

Channelling of hydrothermal fluids during the accretion and evolution of the upper oceanic crust: Sr isotope evidence from ODP Hole 1256D

ODP Hole 1256D in the eastern equatorial Pacific is the first penetration of a complete section of fast spread ocean crust down to the dike–gabbro transition, and only the second borehole to sample in situ sheeted dikes after DSDP Hole 504B. Here a high spatial resolution record of whole rock and mineral strontium isotopic compositions from Site 1256 is combined with core observations and downhole wireline geophysical measurements to determine the extent of basalt–hydrothermal fluid reaction and to identify fluid pathways at different levels in the upper ocean crust.The volcanic sequence at Site 1256 is dominated by sheet and massive lava flows but the Sr isotope profile shows only limited exchange with seawater. However, the upper margins of two anomalously thick (>25 m) massive flow sequences are strongly hydrothermally altered with elevated Sr isotope ratios and appear to be conduits of lateral low-temperature off-axis fluid flow. Elsewhere in the lavas, high 87Sr/86Sr are restricted to breccia horizons. Mineralised hyaloclastic breccias in the Lava–Dike Transition are strongly altered to Mg-saponite, silica and pyrite, indicating alteration by mixed seawater and cooled hydrothermal fluids. In the Sheeted Dike Complex 87Sr/86Sr ratios are pervasively shifted towards hydrothermal fluid values (∼0.705). Dike chilled margins display secondary mineral assemblages formed during both axial recharge and discharge and have higher 87Sr/86Sr than dike cores, indicating preferential fluid flow along dike margins. Localised increases in 87Sr/86Sr in the Dike–Gabbro Transition indicates the channelling of fluids along the sub-horizontal intrusive boundaries of the 25 to 50 m-thick gabbroic intrusions, with only minor increases in 87Sr/86Sr within the cores of the gabbro bodies.When compared to the pillow lava-dominated section from Hole 504B, the Sr isotope measurements from Site 1256 suggest that the extent of hydrothermal circulation in the upper ocean crust may be strongly dependent on the eruption style. Sheet and massive flow dominated lava sequences typical of fast spreading ridges may experience relatively restricted circulation, but there may be much more widespread circulation through pillow lava-dominated sections. In addition, the Hole 1256D sheeted dikes display a much greater extent of Sr-isotopic exchange compared to dikes from Hole 504B. Because seawater-derived hydrothermal fluids must transit the dikes during their evolution to black smoker-type fluids, the different Sr-isotope profiles for Holes 504B and 1256D suggest there are significant variations in mid-ocean ridge hydrothermal systems at fast and intermediate spreading ridges, which may impact geochemical cycles of elements mobilised by fluid–rock exchange at different temperatures.

The Space-Time Distribution of Electrical and Optical Characteristics of High-Voltage Pulsed Discharge Plasma in Helium

In earlier studies [1, 2], we investigated the electric field distribution in the interelectrode space of a highvoltage pulsed discharge. It was shown that accumulation of a non-compensated positive space charge causes a change in the space-time distribution of electric field E(x, t) (where х is the distance from the cathode along the discharge axis) in the accelerating discharge gap. The E(x, t) distribution is one of the basic factors determining the kinetics of plasma particles, which affects the space-time distribution of radiation intensity I(x, t) for transitions from the resonant levels [1]. In order to investigate processes affecting the generation and penetrability of an electron beam formed in the accelerating gap, in the present work we measured and analyzed the behavior of E(x, t) and I(x, t) for the   1 1 He 2 3 s S p P   transition at the wavelength λ = 5015μm along the discharge axis.

Spatio-temporal characteristics of self-pulse in hollow cathode discharge

The characteristics of self-pulse in hollow cathode discharge at low pressure have been investigated. The voltage-current (V-I) curves, the influence of ballast resistor on the self-pulses, and the evolution of current and voltage are measured. Both the axial and radial spatio-temporal discharge images of self-pulse are recorded. The results show that there exists the hysteresis effect in the present hollow cathode discharge. The high value of ballast resistors is favourable for the observation of self-pulses. The process of the self-pulse can be divided into three stages from the temporal discharge images, i.e., the pre-discharge, the transition from mainly axial electric field to mainly radial electric field, and the decaying process. The self-pulse is suggested to originate from the mode transition of the discharge in essence.

The influence of radiative heat exchange on the character of gasdynamic flows under conditions of pulsed discharge in high-pressure cesium vapor

The gasdynamics of pulse-periodic radiative discharge in high-pressure cesium vapor has been studied in the framework of a two-temperature multifluid model. It is established that, at a limited volume of the gas-discharge tube, the character of gasdynamic flows depends on the conditions of radiative heat exchange in discharge plasma. In cases in which the main contribution to radiative energy losses is related to a spectral region with optical thickness τR(λ) ∼ 1, there is nonlocal radiative heat exchange in discharge plasma, which is uniformly heated over the entire tube volume and moves from the discharge axis to tube walls during the entire pulse of discharge current. Under the conditions of radiative losses determined by the spectral region where τR(λ) ≪ 1, the reabsorption of radiation is absent and discharge plasma is nonuniformly heated by the current pulse. This leads to the appearance of reverse motions, so that the heated plasma is partly pushed toward the tube walls and partly returned to the discharge axis.

Spatially resolved spectroscopy of an atmospheric pressure microwave plasma jet used for surface treatment

Abstract In this study, the variations of properties of a microwave plasma jet (surfatron) along the discharge axis have been investigated using optical emission spectroscopy. As the argon jet is not enclosed, the spatial distribution of individual species in effluent plasma is the result of rather complicated interplay between energy loss and gradual mixing with the air. Spatial 2D relative intensity profiles of atomic lines and molecular bands at 310 nm, 336 nm, 391 nm and 656 nm are presented in the form of colour maps revealing different positions of maximum emission intensity for 310 nm and 336 nm (in the effluent plasma) and for 391 nm and 656 nm (inside the discharge tube). The plasma jet was used for surface treatment of heat resistant samples (stainless steel, aluminium, silicon wafer) and the effectiveness of the plasma treatment was evaluated by measuring the sessile drop contact angle, with water and glycerol as testing liquids. The optimal position for plasma treatment (close to the tube nozzle) combined with longer treatment time (10 s) lead to hydrophilic properties of samples with contact angles as low as 10°.