Temperature gradients due to adiabatic plasma expansion in a magnetic nozzle

Autor:	Benjamin W. Longmier, Jared P. Squire, Edgar A. Bering, A. V. Ilin, F. R. Chang Díaz, T. W. Glover, J. P. Sheehan, Leonard D. Cassady, Maxwell G. Ballenger, Chris S. Olsen, Mark Carter
Rok vydání:	2014
Předmět:	Ambipolar diffusion Chemistry Nozzle Plasma Condensed Matter Physics symbols.namesake Physics::Plasma Physics symbols Electron temperature Langmuir probe Plasma diagnostics Electric potential Atomic physics Adiabatic process
Zdroj:	Plasma Sources Science and Technology. 23:045014
ISSN:	1361-6595 0963-0252
DOI:	10.1088/0963-0252/23/4/045014
Popis:	A mechanism for ambipolar ion acceleration in a magnetic nozzle is proposed. The plasma is adiabatic (i.e., does not exchange energy with its surroundings) in the diverging section of a magnetic nozzle so any energy lost by the electrons must be transferred to the ions via the electric field. Fluid theory indicates that the change in plasma potential is proportional to the change in average electron energy. These predictions were compared to measurements in the VX-200 experiment which has conditions conducive to ambipolar ion acceleration. A planar Langmuir probe was used to measure the plasma potential, electron density, and electron temperature for a range of mass flow rates and power levels. Axial profiles of those parameters were also measured, showing consistency with the adiabatic ambipolar fluid theory.
Databáze:	OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz:	https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_________::c3400c170418a72537053fc71da9abf4 https://doi.org/10.1088/0963-0252/23/4/045014 Zobrazit plný text záznamu