CHARACTERISTICS OF SELF-EXCITED MOVING STRIATIONS AND ELECTRIC FIELDS IN A NEON PLASMA.
Abstract
Wavelengths and frequencies of self-excited moving striations in the plasma of a neon discharge were measured; from this data their velocities were calculated. Measurements were performed in cylindrical Pyrex discharge tubes of inner diameters 4, 10, 31, 75, and 140 millimeters over a pressure range of about 35 to 10,000 millitorr and a discharge current range of about 20 to 400 milliamps. In the 10, 31, and 75 millimeter tubes the average electric field of the plasma was measured under these same conditions. Wavelengths always increased with tube radius, generally decreased as pressure increased, appeared independent of current, and showed an exponential decrease as a function of the parameter, pressure times current density. With the exception of the 4 millimeter discharge tube, frequency generally decreased as radius or pressure increased and appeared relatively insensitive to current changes: in that tube frequency patterns were often eratic. Velocity decreased with pressure and seemed unrelated to radius or current. The electric field decreased linearly with the logarithm of increasing radius, generally decreased as current increased and followed no consistent pattern with pressure. Probes inserted into the plasma for electric field measurements generally caused both striation wavelength and frequency to decrease. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0825656
Entities
People
- Arthur Lowndes Rich Jr
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School