Abstract
Spectroscopic measurements on copper vapors emitted by the cathode are presented for magnetically rotating arcs in a coaxial copper electrode geometry. The maximum temperature of a 100-A arc column burning in contaminated argon is shown to be lower than 8000 K. A maximum Cu density of 5 × 1021 in m−3 is observed when argon is contaminated with 1% CO, while it is larger than 1022 m−3 with 1% nitrogen contamination. The copper vapors emitted by the cathode explain the low temperatures observed. Cases of surface control of the arc velocity at the cathode and radial losses of copper vapors out of the arc column are observed front specific parameters describing the arc profiles. Evidence is given for a copper ion recombination zone extending 2 mm from the cathode in the nitrogen contamination case.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
A. Essoltani, P. Proulx, and M. Boulos,J. Anal. At. Spectrosc. 5, 543–547 (1990).
H. Abdelhakim Ibrahim, thèse de doctorat, Univ. Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, 1982.
A. Randriamahefasoa, thèse de doctorat, Univ. Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, 1983.
R. N. Szente, R. J. Munz, and M. G. Drouet,Plasma Chem. Plasma Process. 9, 121–132 (1989).
R. N. Szente, R. J. Munz, and M. G. Drouet,Plasma Chem. Plasma Process. 12, 327–343 (1992).
R. N. Szente, R. J. Munz, and M. G. Drouet,Pure Appl. Chem. 64, 657–663 (1992).
R. N. Szente, R. J. Munz, and M. G. Drouet,J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 23, 1193- 1200 (1990).
R. N. Szente, “Erosion of plasma torch electrodes,” Ph.D. thesis, McGill University, Montréal, Canada, 1989.
J.-L. Meunier and N. Desaulniers-Soucy,J. Phys. D. Appl. Phys. 27, 2522–2525 (1994).
N. Desaulniers-Soucy and J.-L. Meunier, “Study of fluctuations in arc voltage, velocity, and line intensity for magnetically rotating arcs in contaminated argon,” 11th Int. Symp. Plasma Chem. (ISPC-11), Loughborough, 1993.
N. Desaulniers-Soucy and J.-L. Meunier, “Relative importance of transverse movement, density, and temperature variations on spectroscopic fluctuations of a rotating arc,” 11th Int. Symp. Plasma Chem. (ISPC-11), Loughborough, 1993.
A. Bielsky,J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transfer. 15, 463–472 (1975).
D. Schlüter,Z. Phys. 210, 80–91 (1968).
S. Tamaki and T. Kuroda,Spectrochim. Acta 42B, 1105–1111 (1987).
Report of the IUPAC subcommission on plasma chemistry: “Thermodynamic and transport properties of pure and mixed thermal plasmas at LTE,”Pure Appl. Chem. 54, 1221 (1982).
B. Rahhaoui, thèse de doctorat, Univ. de Paris XI, Orsay, 1986.
J.-L. Meunier, S. Vacquié, and R. J. Munz,Plasma Chem. Plasma Process. 12, 1–16 (1992).
M. G. Drouet, R. Beaudet, and R. Jutras, AIAA/ASME 1974 Thermophysics and Heat Transfer Conference Proc., No. 74-713, 1974.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Desaulniers-Soucy, N., Meunier, J.L. Temperature and density profiles of magnetically rotating arcs burning in contaminated argon. Plasma Chem Plasma Process 15, 629–651 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01447064
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01447064