Simulation of plasma flow in toroidal solenoid filters

An improved drift approximation model with an added radial electrostatic field has been successfully developed. Our model provides a computationally efficient way of quantitatively describing the plasma motion and predicting the plasma behavior in the toroidal solenoid in a filtered cathodic vacuum arc (FCVA) system. Storer's experimental results have been successfully simulated by this model. A good quantitative fit is obtained for our simulation results to the measured ion currents versus distance along the torus for various EC field strengths, the attenuation length, and the wall current. The model describes the change of plasma density along the torus and provides the value of the electron-ion collision frequency at various conditions. The effect of the magnetic field and radial electric field on the plasma transportation can be assessed by the simulation and various plasma parameters can be determined. It is found that the radial electric field confines the z-directional drift of the ions and is one of the most important parameters in determining the ion throughput. For any given B field strength and plasma parameters, there is a peak ion output corresponding to an optimal potential difference which can be obtained by the simulation. Over three times more ion output can be achieved when the torus wall is appropriately biased.