Relative electron density distribution in a low nd helium dc discharge

Abstract

The axial and radial variations of the relative electron density distributions have been measured in an obstructed helium dc discharge by a laser collision induced fluorescence (LCIF) from 4 3D to 2 3P state at 447 nm. For this 1.75 Torr, 6.5 mm gap, 1.6 mA helium obstructed gas discharge, the on-axis LCIF intensity is mostly determined by the neutral atom collision. On the basis of this information, we have plotted the LCIF data to obtain a normalized electron density variation in the inter-electrode volume by plotting the ratio, I−Ion−axisIon−axis, where I is the radial variation of the LCIF intensity and Ion-axis is the on-axis LCIF intensity. The normalized LCIF data show an annular current density distribution in this obstructed discharge with the current peaking near the radial boundary of the electrodes.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2016
Source ID
10.1063/1.4962672

Entities

People

  • Biswa. N. Ganguly
  • James D. Scofield

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Molecular Photonics/Laser Physics
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers
  • Microelectronics