Plasma Beam Measurements
Abstract
Coaxial plasma gun plasma parameters were determined using a diagnostic array to observe electron density, temperature, luminosity, beam target interactions, target luminosity, magnetic fields and ion species. Diagnostics included He-Ne and CO2 laser and 94 GHz microwave interferometry, visible spectrometry using an optical multichannel analyzer, rotating mirror fast framing camera, gated microchannel plate framing cameras, optical vacuum photodiodes, X-ray diodes aad inductive magnetic probes. The plasma gun was operated with 126 or 252 microfarads, 18 kV discharges with Ar or H gas. For these conditions, 70-80 km/s average plasma velocity and 0.5-2 eV plasma electron temperature was observed. The dominant plasma ionic species was Si+1 with a quartz insulator; with an alumina insulator, Al+1 and Al+2 were the dominant species. The plasma was self-luminous for 1.5-3 m. Interferometry showed averaged electron densities of 10 to the 15th power/cc. The plasma showed MHD instabilities. Plasma currents were 0.5-1.5 kA. Fast plasma velocities contributed less than 1 percent of the total beam energy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA247892
Entities
People
- C. R. Sovinec
- D. Dietz
- D. W. Price
- E. L. Ruden
- G. F. Kiuttu
- J. H. Degnan
- J. L. Holmes
- K. Struve
- R. J. Richter-sand