PLASMA DENSITY BY ION BEAM PROBING; DENSITY AND SPECTROSCOPIC MEASUREMENTS OF ENERGETIC DEUTERIUM ARCS.
Abstract
The radial density distribution in a magnetically confined, energetic deuterium arc was measured by probing the arc with a 1.8 MeV deuteron beam. Integrated densities along a beam path were determined by measuring the proton production rate from the D(d,p)H3 reaction between the deuterons in the beam and in the arc. A zone calculation was used to invert the proton production data to a radial density distribution. Peak densities on the arc axis are in the range of 10 to the 13th power to 10 to the 14th power and the radius of the half density point is in the range of 1 to 2 cm. Spectroscopic observations of the arc were also made. Comparison with estimated spectral intensities, based on the density distribution and electron temperature, indicated that for high arc currents the neutral density is determined by the recombination rate but for low arc currents there appears to be an excess of neutral atoms. Macroscopic arc parameters, such as current and voltage, have been used, together with the density distribution, in an idealized model of the arc to obtain values for the average electron temperature and plasma space potential. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0628890
Entities
People
- Forrest C. Jobes
- John F. Marshall
- Robert L. Hickok
- Samuel Duncan