DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A STEADY STATE PLASMA STUDY FACILITY

Abstract

The plasma study facility was conceived as a steady state, highly ionized plasma system for use by the plasma physics group. Objectives will be the study of electro-magnetic, Alfven and ion waves in a plasma, electron and ion beam interactions, and the diffusion of the plasma in magnetic fields. Various diagnostic techniques are envisioned, including Langmuir and magnetic probes, microwave, and spectroscopic measurements. The plasma column is 9 ft long and about 2 cm in diameter, depending upon the magnitude of the longitudinal magnetic field. It is contained in a pyrex glass cylinder 4 in. in diameter with access ports every 14 in. for diagnostic equipment. The system is designed to operate at a source gas pressure of approximately 1 to 5 microns utilizing differential pump of neutral particles. The first mode of operation will employ a hollow cathode reflex arc discharge. The discharge is expected to carry up to 150 amps at approximately 100 v. The longitudinal magnetic field in the plasma column will be variable up to 10,000 gauss, and homogeneous to within 2.5% along the axis of the plasma column. Design and details of construction (except for field coils and field power supplies) are presented with operating instructions and expenditure data.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1962
Accession Number
AD0482263

Entities

People

  • John B. Streit
  • Walter E. Olsen

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Pressure
  • California
  • Charged Particles
  • Construction
  • Control Panels
  • Diagnostic Equipment
  • Diameters
  • Diffusion Pumps
  • Electric Arcs
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Magnetic Mirrors
  • Mechanical Structure
  • Particles
  • Power Supplies
  • Steady State
  • United States
  • Vacuum Chambers

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics