Electro-thermal Capillary Plasma Technique

A confined capillary electrothermal plasma discharge is a type of plasma formation produced by an arc through a high current electric pulsed discharge in the range of several kilo amperes. The discharge forms an arc that generates a hot, high pressure, low molecular weight plasma source. The high temperature plasma in the interior of the capillary causes ablation and vaporization of surrounding insulation, which is enveloped by hot gaseous material and sustains the original plasma arc. Pulsed plasma jet from the electrothermal gun technology possesses a great potential to be an efficient source for production of novel materials such as ceramic and metal nanopowder or the thermal plasma spray coatings. Electrothermal plasma discharges have uses in many applications such as space satellite thrusters, high velocity launchers, fusion reactor pellet accelerators and as high heat flux sources.