CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF A STEADY STATE PLASMA STUDY FACILITY
Abstract
A steady-state, highly-ionized plasma system has been built for use by the plasma physics group of the Department of Physics of the U. S. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California. This system will be used to study electro-magnetic, hydromagnetic, and ion waves in a plasma, and charged particle diffusion in a variable magnetic field. The experimental tube is a nine-foot long assembly of four in. diameter pyrex sections with access ports at 14 in. intervals. The continuous plasma source is a hollow cathode discharge operating in a reflex configuration using either argon or helium at a cathode pressure of approximately one micron. Differential pumping of neutral particles is utilized to give a pressure in the region of the floating anode of the order of 10 to the -5 power mm Hg. The discharge carries up to 200 amps at 160 volts. The longitudinal magnetic field is variable up to 10,000 gauss and is homogeneous to within 2.5% along the axis of the plasma column.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0482464
Entities
People
- Carol C. Smith Jr.
- H. Ewall
- Roger D. Johnson
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School