Directional Current Probe Measurements in Multipactor Breakdown
Abstract
Current probes (or electron probes) are a simple and yet highly effective diagnostic in detecting multipactor breakdown. The most common geometry for these probes is a piece of semi-rigid cable with a small segment of the center conductor exposed. A small positive bias is applied to the center conductor to collect electrons from the multipactor breakdown. Probes are highly sensitive when set up correctly and within line of sight of the breakdown region; however, they are generally isotropic and are not useful for finely identifying the position of the breakdown. In this work, a directional current probe (DCP) design is discussed and tested, demonstrating enhanced ability to localize a breakdown region as opposed to standard probes. The DCP consists of a biased collector surrounded by a biased shield, similar to a Faraday cup. By applying a negative bias to this shield, electron collection is limited to the line of sight allowed by the shield opening.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 16, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1105282
Entities
People
- Aimee A. Hubble
- Matthew S. Feldman
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation