A Plasma Generator with Magnetic Vortex Stabilization and Possibilities of Its Use

Abstract

A design of a plasma generator, the parameters of the resulting plasma, and the possibilities of its use for the synthesis of nanosized powders and optical emission spectroscopy are described. The device operation is based on the arc discharge of alternating current (66 kHz) in an argon jet between water-cooled metal electrodes. The discharge is stabilized by a flow of isolating gas (helium, nitrogen, air) and an axial magnetic field. The gas flow is fed tangentially to the discharge axis. The plasma between the electrodes has the shape of a cylinder remote from the chamber walls. The temperature and electron concentration in the cross section of the plasma cylinder vary along the radius and take the maximum and minimum values.