Hybrid Numerical Simulation of High-Current Vacuum Arc Taking Into Account Secondary Plasma Generation

This paper is devoted to the further development of a numerical model for the simulation of high-current vacuum arcs (HCVA) with cathode attachment in the form of multiple cathode spots. The model allows one to simulate different modes of HCVA and the transition between them. It is shown that the secondary plasma, arising from the anodic sputtering and nonadherence of the incident ions, affects the constriction of the plasma and the transition between the HCVA modes.

I. Introduction

This paper is devoted to the numerical simulation of a high-current vacuum arc (HCVA) with an external axial magnetic field (AMF). Arcs of this type are used in vacuum interrupters [1], [2]. In this paper, we use the hybrid model [3], [4] to study the effect of incomplete accommodation of ions on electrodes in the HCVA.