Investigation of RF Emissions from Two Beams Interacting with an Electric Field Dominated Plasma
Abstract
This final scientific report summarizes a five year program of experimental research on a steady state, electric field dominated, classical Penning discharge at the University of Tennessee's Plasma Science Laboratory. The objectives of this research program were to study RF emissions and RF interactions with a steady-state, electric field dominated plasma which exhibited instabilities associated with two interpenetrating electron beams. Among the scientific results of this contract are the observation and identification of the geometric mean emission frequency. The RF emissions associated with the geometric mean emission frequency and its harmonics could produce, under some conditions, a virtually flat white noise spectrum from below 0.5 megahertz to frequencies above 1.2 GHz. Quantitative investigations during the latter part of this contract showed that the efficiency of converting the dc electrical power input of the classical Penning discharge into broadband RF radiation was no more than 0.1 or 1.0%.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 15, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA170043
Entities
People
- J. R. Roth
Organizations
- University of Tennessee