ABOUT THE MOTION OF PLASMOIDS IN FIELD-FREE SPACE,

Abstract

The speed of current sheets of a given density was determined by observing the main part of a plasmoid which moves in field-free space. After the ejection of a plasmoid from the source, it initially moved into a glass tube of 9 cm diameter, then into an organic glass tube of 18 cm diameter. Hydrogen was used in the experiment. In the experimental conditions, the first dense plasmoid ejected was studied. It occured during the third half-period of the discharge. Sheets of different densities move with different speeds; those of lower density are faster. With the increase of retardation (neutral gas injection into the source) the speeds of both sheets decrease. The greatest delay occurs in the small diameter glass tube. This results in a decrease of the curvature of the plasmoid front. The motion of sheets was measured by the microwave reflection doppler effect. The use of the speed of sound in plasma to characterize plasmoid thermal expansion is discussed. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 21, 1967
Accession Number
AD0668060

Entities

People

  • I. T. Guzhovskii
  • V. M. Pistryak
  • Yu. P. Malazov
  • Yu. S. Azovskii

Organizations

  • National Air and Space Intelligence Center

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Curvature
  • Diameters
  • Doppler Effect
  • Ejection
  • Geometric Forms
  • Geometry
  • Hydrogen
  • Lines (Geometry)
  • Mathematics
  • Microwaves
  • Physical Properties
  • Reflection
  • Retardation
  • Thermal Expansion

Readers

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

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster