INVESTIGATION OF NON-THERMAL IONIZATION FOR MHD ENERGY CONVERSION
Abstract
Results of two groups of experiments performed in cold cathode cesium diodes are given. The first group of experiments covered cesium-helium discharge phenomena in a diode configuration and were made to verify theoretical non-equilibrium concepts and formulations. The second group of experiments covered pure cesium discharges in a similar geometry and were conducted to answer questions concerning plasma conductivity, uniformity of discharge, and gradients produced in the positive column and the effect of wall conduction on the discharge. In the first case, it was possible to verify experimentally the theoretical work by showing that non-equilibrium phenomena did exist in select cesium-helium mixtures at current densities of 1-10 amperes per s cm and that the experimental data closely matched the theoretical curve which represented values opaque to resonance radiation. For the pure cesium case, the experimental data checked within a factor of two for fully ionized condition. Loss of cesium to the walls of the container prevented accumulation of data above 1/(3 x 10 to the 16th)cu cm. At a cesium density of 1/(3 x 10 to the 16th)cu cm it is shown that electrons having energies of the order of 0.18 ev must exist compared to gas temperature to be consistent with experimental data. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 15, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0286278
Entities
Organizations
- General Electric