A short-arc high-pressure xenon discharge with a thoriated tungsten cathode (this is the reason for the presence of thorium atoms in the discharge gap) is investigated depending on the shape of the electrode surface. Based on the previously developed model, the electrokinetic characteristics and optical radiation of the plasma are calculated. It is shown that the shape of the electrode surface (the shape of the anode surface is considered in more detail) strongly affects, first of all, the electric field in the discharge gap, which, in turn, determines the plasma temperature and the spatial distributions of thorium atoms and charged particles (thorium and xenon ions). The resulting change in the electrokinetic characteristics significantly affects the optical radiation of the plasma, allowing the choice of the shape of the electrode surface to obtain the prevalence of radiation in the ultraviolet, visible, or infrared regions of the spectrum.

AbstractWe have studied a high- (ultrahigh-) pressure short-arc discharge in xenon with thoriated tungsten cathodes. A system of equations formulated based on earlier experimental data indicating possible emission of cathode material (thorium) into the discharge gap has made it possible to determine the electric field strength, plasma temperature, and concentration of thorium atoms as well as thorium and xenon ions in the plasma. The problem has been solved for a model discharge between planar electrodes. The results indicate the key role of thorium atoms in the cathode region. Thorium atoms determine the ionization balance and other electrokinetic properties of plasma. Emission of thorium atoms reduces the plasma temperature at the cathode, which turns out to be noticeably lower than the plasma temperature near the anode; this is a new result that agrees with experimental data. Other electrokinetic characteristics of the plasma (in particular, charged particle concentration and electric field strength) are also in good agreement with the experiment.