A SUPERSONIC PLASMA BEAM
Abstract
The theory and design of a cold plasma beam facility are described. A supersonic bea of alkali metal vapor is produced by convention l wind tun el t chniques. The vapor is ionized to a high degree by the process of surface ionization on the heated (tungsten) walls of the acceleration nozzle, which also acts as an electron emitter to provide charge neutralization in the beam. The limitation on the plasma flux is the effect of particle recombination in the nonequilibrium situation existing in the nozzle. Estimates based on the presently available data on r combination rates give a maximum beam flux of 10 to the 17th power ion/sq cm-sec. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1961
- Accession Number
- AD0286910
Entities
People
- Benjamin Bederson
- Herbert Malamud