Production of High Density Uniform Plasmas for Advanced MHD Generator and Electric Laser Design.
Abstract
The use of an electron beam to produce a non-self-sustaining electric discharge has been applied to a number of different gases. Electron loss rate processes have been measured in N2, He and CO, as well as mixtures of He, N2 and CO2. The addition of H2O vapor to these gases has resulted in a new type of discharge instability which has not been previously observed. This instability is expected to exist under certain conditions in any preionized gas discharge in which electrons are lost predominantly by electron-neutral dissociative attachment, or by any process whose cross section is an increasing function of electron energy. It has been observed in pure CO2 and He-Co2 electron beam discharges. Theoretical understanding of this instability is important in possible applications of the electron beam discharge to MHD generators, MHD lasers and high-power gas lasers. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 30, 1972
- Accession Number
- AD0755892
Entities
People
- R. M. Patrick