Diagnosis of plasmas generated by pulsed vacuum arc discharge at hydrogen impregnated electrodes

Ion components, ion charge states and ion diffusion velocities of hydrogen-impregnated-electrode pulsed vacuum arc discharge plasmas were measured by time of flight (TOF) mass spectrometry. The results show that main components of the plasmas are H+, Ti+, and Ti2+, Ti3+, with Ti2+ predominating. The average ion charge of Ti ions is between 1.95 and 2.13 when the discharge current is between 40 A and 80 A, and it increases with the increasing of the discharge current. In addition, different ions have different diffusion velocities with a magnitude of 104 m/s.