Transport of plasma fluxes with distinct ion masses through a curved magnetic field

Traveling of cathode plasma flow of a steady state arc through a transport system based on a curved magnetic field and supplied with an additional governing electrode is studied. Characteristic of the system is that the metallic guiding duct is absent as well as that the magnetic field is produced by the coils located beyond the plasma flow trajectory. It is shown that position of cathode plasma flow at exit of the transport system is governed by currents of the magnetic coils. If the coil currents hold constant, biasing of the electrode governs both shape of the plasma flow and position of its maximum. It is found that these positions when both the magnetic field and bias hold constant are distinct for different cathode materials, so that the system, in principle, can be used for spatial separation of a multi-component (by mass) plasma flow.