Formation and Diagnostics of a Cylindrical Shell Plasma.
Abstract
The formation and diagnostics of a cylindrical plasma shell suitable for electromagnetic implosion plasma generation is discussed. The plasma shell is formed by a 5 kV, 30 kVA, 6 microsecond risetime capacitor discharge through a 20 cm radius, 2 2 cm tall, 0.1 to 1.0 mg injected gas shell. The gas shell (H2, D2, He or Ar) is injected through a circular array of 36 Mach 6 nozzles, fed by a 100 to 1000 lb/sq. in., 3 cm fast gas valve. The injected gas flows axially through the electrode gap, through an array of flow-through (diffusor) ports in the opposite electrode. Gas injection was checked with transient gas density measurements ionization gauges. Gas shell ionization diagnostics included current probes, Langmuir probes, and transient optical spectroscopy--using a 1 m monochromator with photomultiplier tube and a PAR 500 optical multiple channel analyzer. Electron densities approximately 2 times ten to the 14th power to 10 to the 15th power/cc and electron temperatures approximately 1 to 2 eV were obtained. Open shutter photography indicated a fair degree of azimuthal symmetry in the ionization discharge. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA106717
Entities
People
- David Honea
- Roger Bengtson
Organizations
- University of Texas at Austin