Plasma Filled Diode Experiments on Gamble II
Abstract
Plasma filled diode (PFD) experiments are performed on the Gamble II generator (1.5 MV, 2 Omega, 60 ns pulse width), emphasizing measurements and modeling to improve the fundamental understanding of PFDs. The PFD is initially a short circuit, then opens and develops a finite impedance. The maximum impedance depends on the initial density, and generally decreases as the initial density increases. For relatively high initial plasma density ( > 10(14) cm-3), the impedance is low (0.1-0. 3 Omega) for most of the pulse duration. In 1 D and 2D PIC code simulations, the PFD begins to open when electrode sheaths expand from both electrodes and meet in the center of the electrode gap. The cathode sheath then quickly expands to the anode, resulting in vacuum electron flow typical of a standard electron-beam diode. A simple analytic model based on the PIC code results reproduces the measured conduction-time dependence on density.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA637756
Entities
People
- Bruce V. Weber
- Gerald Cooperstein
- J. C. Kellogg
- John R. Boller
- Stavros J. Stephanakis
- Stephen B. Swanekamp
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory