| Abstract: | The behavior of cathode spots on metallic electrodes is investigated. The dependence of the basic characteristics of the spots (current per spot, life time, rate of displacement, average area and so forth) on the nature of the flow of the plasma past the surface of the electrode, the surface temperature of the electrode, the total current in the electrode, and the magnetic field is obtained. The investigations were done in connection with the study of the operation of electrodes of open cycle magnetohydrodynamic generators. The experiments were conducted with copper electrodes introduced in the plasma formed by the combustion products of natural gas with potassium added to it. |
