A Correlation Study of Plasma Diagnostic Techniques
Abstract
A cylindrical microwave cavity that could be filled with a mercury plasma was designed and built in such a way that spherical Langmuir probes could be inserted into the plasma in the cavity. The spherical probes were used in an attempt to determine the velocity distribution function of the electrons, but the lack of results from the probes made it necessary to assume a Half-Maxwellian distribution function existed within the cavity. Microwave measurements of the conductivity ratio agreed quite well with the conductivity ratio which was calculated from the assumed distribution function, but the large standard deviation in the microwave measurements indicates that further refinements in design are necessary. The probability of collision of the electrons in mercury vapor is such that the effect of the electron velocity distribution function on the conductivity ratio is minimized, and the redesign of the equipment for use with a rare gas plasma is necessary before the microwave measurement of the conductivity ratio can be used to confirm that a given distribution function exists in the plasma.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0284021
Entities
People
- Robert R. Murfitt
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology