Experimental Study of Instabilities in the ELMAX

Abstract

An experimental search for instabilities in an ELMAX plasma device was made. Plasma generated oscillations of potential and density, with amplitudes several orders of magnitude above background noise, were observed over a wide range of plasma parameters. Measurements of plasma parameters were made with Langmuir probe diagnostic techniques. Frequencies from 3 kHz to 8 kHz were observed with phase velocity in the direction of the electron diagmagnetic drift. Ion temperature was not measured and attempted measurements of space potential were not satisfactory. By comparing the observed characteristics of the oscillations with previously identified instabilities, the instabilities responsible for the plasma generated oscillations were tentatively identified as collisional drift waves.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1972
Accession Number
AD0744818

Entities

People

  • Victor R. Trouy

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Amplitude
  • Dispersion Relations
  • Electric Fields
  • Electrons
  • Frequency
  • Instability
  • Ion Density
  • Langmuir Probes
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Measurement
  • Oscillation
  • Phase Velocity
  • Plasmonic Devices
  • Power Supplies
  • Spectrum Analyzers
  • Temperature Gradients

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster