Characteristics of a Mercury Arc Discharge in a Magnetic Field

Langmuir double probes and microwave resonant cavities are used to determine the axial magnetic field effects on the electron temperature, plasma density, and a low frequency natural oscillation in a mercury arc at low pressure. It is found that the magnetic field causes the electron temperature to greatly increase and become dependent on the amount of discharge current. The plasma density develops pronounced axial variations in the presence of the magnetic field. The natural oscillation frequency is found to be independent of the magnetic field or discharge current.