Author:
Shmelev D.L.,Uimanov I.V.,Barengolts S.A.,Tsventoukh M.M.
Abstract
This article presents some preliminary results of a 2D PIC MC kinetic simulation of the effect of an external axial magnetic field (AMF) on a plasma jet emanating from a vacuum arc cathode spot. It is shown that a strong AMF leads to compression of the plasma jet with the formation of a complex multi-stream ion flow in the central region of the plasma jet and the appearance of a positive potential hump in the peripheral layers of the plasma jet. In addition, it is shown that the density of the ion current from the plasma to the cathode increases with increasing AMF.