Non-Linear Behaviour of Ion Waves

Abstract

The report presents experimental evidence of the excitation of higher harmonics in the presence of an ion-acoustic wave stability. This instability was excited in an argon plasma column which was produced in a magnetic field of 110 Gauss. The pressure of the plasma was between 1 micrometer Hg and 3 micrometer Hg with an ion density of 10 to the 11th power/cc and an electron temperature of 2 eV. The ion acoustic wave is excited by the drifting electrons in the plasma. The drift motion is the result of the D.C. electric field between the cathode and two grids which are kept at ground potential. The electron drift velocity was estimated to be 4 x 10 to the 6th power cm/sec. The low frequency oscillations were detected by a langmuir probe and analyzed by a panoramic spectrum analyzer. With cathode potential of 100v and 160v anode currents were 1.0 and 1.6A respectively. At 200v the anode current was 1.8A.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 15, 1974
Accession Number
AD0778472

Entities

People

  • Alexander J. Anastassiades

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acoustic Waves
  • Air Force
  • Amplitude
  • Analyzers
  • Collisions
  • Demographic Cohorts
  • Distribution Functions
  • Electrons
  • Excitation
  • Frequency
  • Harmonics
  • Instability
  • Langmuir Probes
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Spectrum Analyzers
  • Wave Propagation
  • Waves

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics
  • Spectroscopy.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics