GUIDING OF PLASMA BY ELECTRIC FIELD AND MAGNETIC FIELD

The relationship between the transported ion current and the cathodic arc current is determined in a vacuum arc plasma source equipped with a curved magnetic filter. Our results suggest that the outer and inner walls of the duct interact with the plasma independently. The duct magnetic field is a critical factor of the plasma output. The duct transport efficiency is to maximize at a value of bias plate voltage in the range +10 V to +20 V, and independent (within our limit of measurement) of the magnetic field strength in the duct. The plasma flux is composed of two components: a diffusion flux in the transverse direction due to particle collisions, and a drift flux due to the ion inertia. The inner wall of the magnetic duct sees only the diffusion flux while the outer wall receives both fluxes. Thus, applying a positive potential to the outer duct wall can reflect the ions and increase the output current. Our experimental data also show that biasing both sides of the duct is more effective than biasing the outer wall alone.     

Plasma diffusion and transport in a magnetic duct filter

A cathodic arc plasma source equipped with a curved magnetic duct to filter macro-particles was used to study plasma diffusion and transport in the duct. We determine the optimal duct bias, at which the magnetic duct produces the maximum plasma output, for titanium cathodic arc plasma at 50, 100 and 150 A arc current, and we investigate the parametric effects of the arc current and guiding magnetic field on the optimal duct bias. The optimal bias decreases as the guiding magnetic field increases from 0.01 to 0.04T and is almost independent of the guiding magnetic field when the magnetic field strength ranges from 0.04 to 0.06T, the upper limit for our equipment. The optimal duct bias at 0.04T guiding magnetic field decreases with increasing arc current.     

Simulation of plasma flow in toroidal solenoid filters

An improved drift approximation model with an added radial electrostatic field has been successfully developed. Our model provides a computationally efficient way of quantitatively describing the plasma motion and predicting the plasma behavior in the toroidal solenoid in a filtered cathodic vacuum arc (FCVA) system. Storer's (1989) experimental results have been successfully simulated by this model. A good quantitative fit is obtained for our simulation results to the measured ion currents versus distance along the torus for various B field strengths, the attenuation length, and the wall current. The model describes the change of plasma density along the torus and provides the value of the electron-ion collision frequency at various conditions. The effect of the magnetic field and radial electric field on the plasma transportation can be assessed by the simulation and various plasma parameters can be determined. It is found that the radial electric field confines the 3-directional drift of the ions and is one of the most important parameters in determining the ion throughput. For any given B field strength and plasma parameters, there is a peak ion output corresponding to an optimal potential difference which can be obtained by the simulation. Over three times more ion output can be achieved when the torus wall is appropriately biased     

带状真空电弧磁过滤器等离子体分布特性及制备类金刚石膜研究

采用大尺寸矩形石墨靶作为真空阴极电弧源, 研制了带状真空电弧磁过滤器. 使用法拉第杯和朗缪尔探针对90 ℃弯曲磁过滤器中的带状等离子体出口所在平面的15个区域的离子能量和密度进行了测试; 用该带状真空电弧磁过滤器制备了类金刚石膜(diamond-like carbon, DLC); 对相应位置上的类金刚石膜进行了Raman分析和膜厚测量. 结果表明: 磁过滤器出口所在平面的15个划分区域中离子能量分布接近麦克斯韦分布, 离子能量分布与类金刚石膜的结构具有明显的对应特征, 离子密度分布与DLC膜膜厚分布相互之间具有相关性.     

Macroparticle filtering of high-current vacuum arc plasmas

The transport of vacuum arc plasmas through a 90° curved magnetic macroparticle filter was investigated using a high-current pulsed arc source with a carbon cathode. The peak arc current was in the kiloampere range, exceeding considerably the level of what has been reported in the literature. The main question investigated was whether magnetic macroparticle filters could be scaled up while maintaining the transport efficiency of small filters. In front of the cathode, we found that arc current dependent total ion saturation currents were in the range from 10% to 23% of the arc current. The best relative transmission was 25% (time integrated output/time integrated input) at a duct wall bias of 12.5 V and at an axial magnetic field of about 100 mT. The measured relative transmission of the used high-current arrangement is comparable to what has been observed with other low-current filters. The absolute measurable ion saturation currents at the filter exit reached 70 A at an arc current of about 1000 A     

Ion current distribution within a toroidal duct of a filteredvacuum arc deposition system

Vacuum arcs were established on a 90-mm-diameter Ti cathode in a deposition apparatus consisting of a spacer, 122 mm-diameter annular anode, quarter-torus magnetic macroparticle filter, and a deposition chamber. A toroidal magnetic field generally parallel to the torus walls of up to 20 mT was applied. The ion current in various cross-sections of the toroidal duct was measured using: 1) a disc probe of 130-mm diameter, oriented normal to the torus axis used to measure the transmitted ion current, and 2) a hollow cylindrical probe of 135-mm diameter and 25-mm height, whose axis coincided with the torus axis, used to measure ion current losses to the duct wall. The distribution of ion current loss was studied using an 8-segment hollow cylindrical multiprobe, where the individual probes were equally distributed on the circumference of a 130-mm-diameter circle. It was shown that: 1) the ratio of ion currents collected on the cylindrical and disc probes at first decreases with increasing the toroidal field, and then becomes approximately constant; 2) the presence of the large-diameter disc probe does not influence the value of the ion current on the cylindrical probe; and 3) the maximum ion current density near the torus walls is located in the +g direction and displaces in the -(B×g) direction with increasing the toroidal field, where g and B are the vectors of the centrifugal acceleration and the magnetic field, respectively     

Plasma motion in a filtered cathodic vacuum arc

A model is proposed for the flow of a plasma originating from a cathodic vacuum arc into a curvilinear magnetic field. The model gives good agreement with measurements obtained from a filtered cathodic-arc thin film deposition system. The important parameters involved in the motion of a vacuum arc plasma beam through a magnetic filter are examined. The analysis is based on the use of the guiding center approximation to describe the motion of the charged particles produced in the plasma where the thermal energy is negligible compared to the mass flow energy. Electron-ion collision effects are included within the framework of the drift model. It is shown that under the limiting condition of a collision frequency which is much higher than the cyclotron frequency of the electron, the motion of the plasma ions around the bend becomes independent of the magnetic field, with the number of ions traversing the filter significantly reduced. However, in the collisionless plasma case (cyclotron frequency higher than the collision frequency), the model predicts a square-law relationship between ion-saturation current and magnetic field , I_p ∞B²     

THE INFLUENCE OF ELECTRON OSCILLATION ON PLASMA TRANSPORT THROUGH A MAGNETIC DUCT

A magnetic duct is inserted between the cathodic arc plasma source and the chamber to eliminate the macroparticles. In this paper, the plasma output of the magnetic duct is determined as a function of the magnetic field and the bias voltage under the Bilek biasing mode and entire duct biasing mode. The computer simulation and the experimental result indicate that the ${\vec E}\times{\vec B}$ drift results in an extra diffusion flux under the Bilek biasing mode. The test verifying the electron oscillation was conducted in the magnetic duct biased in the Bilek mode. The electron behaviour under Bilek biasing mode is different from that under entire duct biasing mode. The Bilek biasing mode has a lower plasma output than the entire duct biasing mode.     

Propagation of vacuum arc plasma beam in a toroidal filter

An analytical solution to the problem of plasma beam transport in a toroidal magnetic filter for unmagnetized ions is derived. A two-fluid model taking into account electromagnetic and pressure forces, electron-ion collisions, magnetic force line curvature, and radial dependence of centrifugal force is used. From comparison with experimental data it is shown that the obtained solution describes well the main properties of plasma beam behavior in the filter, e.g. (1) the relative value of the ion current along the torus decreases exponentially, (2) the deflection of the plasma beam from the center of the torus correlates with the centrifugal drift of the plasma beam across a magnetic field, and (3) experiment and theory agree well on the weak correlation between magnetic field strength and filter efficiency     

New developments in processing cathodic arc plasmas

Filtering of plasmas by curved solenoidal ducts is well established as a method of removing macroparticles. By analyzing the interactions of planar probes with the drifting plasma of the cathodic arc, new insights have been obtained into the operation of these ducts. Theoretical modeling of these interactions suggests, and experiment confirms, that the use of a separate biased electrode on the inside of the duct gives enhanced transmission without drawing excessive electron current. Theoretical modeling of a negatively biased planar electrode lying parallel to the drift velocity as well as experiment both show that ions are captured effectively onto the electrode producing a macroparticle free film at good deposition rates. The application of pulsed high voltage to the substrate placed at the exit of the duct is treated theoretically, and a model is proposed which gives a good agreement with the experimental concentration profile for a silicon surface coated and simultaneously implanted with titanium     

Langmuir单探针诊断射频辉光放电等离子体及其数据处理

Langmuir探针是诊断等离子体参数的重要手段.报道了在氩气射顿(13.56MHz)辉光放电等离子体中使用调谐单探针进行诊断,对探针I-V特性曲线的统计噪声进行了数字滤波的光滑化处理,而后求二次微商.在相同的放电条件下,使用自行设计的微分电路,对探针特性二次微商进行在线测量.这两种方法得到的二次微商结果能够较好地符合. 关键词： Langmuir探针 二次微商 数值滤波 微分电路     

Runaway-Ströme hoher Intensität in einer toroidalen Entladung

Intensive currents of runaway electrons with energies of 50 keV or more have been observed at high pressures in a plasma betatron in addition to betatron accelerated electrons at lower pressures. The measurements agree with the assumption that these electrons are accelerated in the external field while they are guided by the self magnetic field of the plasma current. Macroscopic instabilities and plasma waves can be excluded as accelerating mechanisms. The strong dependence of the runaway flux upon the gas pressure and the electric field can be explained by collisions between electrons and the other plasma particles. Furthermore the influence of the external magnetic field on the movement of the plasma current to the torus wall was investigated. A maximum circulating runaway current of more than 2000 A (Xenon) appeared when the plasma current was kept approximately in balance by the external magnetic field.     

Plasma confinement in tokamaks with robust torus

We present a non-linear symplectic map that describes the alterations of the magnetic field lines inside the tokamak plasma due to the presence of a robust torus (RT) at the plasma edge. This RT prevents the magnetic field lines from reaching the tokamak wall and reduces, in its vicinity, the islands and invariant curve destruction due to resonant perturbations. The map describes the equilibrium magnetic field lines perturbed by resonances created by ergodic magnetic limiters (EMLs). We present the results obtained for twist and non-twist mappings derived for monotonic and non-monotonic plasma current density radial profiles, respectively. Our results indicate that the RT implementation would decrease the field line transport at the tokamak plasma edge.     

Elektronenbeschleunigung in einem Plasmabetatron mit und ohne hohem Leitungsstrom

A previous paper by Drees and Paul reported measurements on a plasma betatron. The study was continued using a betatron field with a vector potential taking into account the self magnetic field of a plasma current. The plasma was produced by a high frequency electric quadrupole field without an azimuthal magnetic field. The bremsstrahlung intensity of the accelerated electrons was observed as a function of gas pressure and accelerating field. The maximum energy of the electrons was 1.3 MeV compared to 1.5 MeV given by the field parameters. The maximum number in this energy range was about 10¹⁰ per pulse corresponding to a circulating runaway current of ～ 1 A. The conduction current was drasticly reduced by coating the inner wall of the quartz glass torus with a thin layer of graphite. This change in the plasma current did not influence the γ radiation intensity.     

清洗放电前MUT托卡马克中的电流分布

本文利用磁探针阵测量清洗放电前ＭＵＴ托卡马克中角向磁场的分布，从而计算得到了等离子体的电流分布。结果表明，在清洗放电初期，由于存在大量杂质，等离子体的横向扩散非常大，因而。真空室的绝缘段几乎不起绝缘作用，此时所测到的环向电流中绝大部分是流经厚壁真空室的电流。     

由磁测量确定环流器等离子体截面形状的方法

一、引言在环流器实验中,等离子体柱截面形状和位置是位形基本参数。尤其对非圆截面和放电期间截面变化的装置,为调节、控制成形、分析等离子体内外电流分布变化引起的位形和稳定性改变,边界磁面形状位置是不可缺少的信息。本文用给定极向磁场,由拟合计算的方法来确定等离子体边界。     

Neutron flux distribution on the wall of toroidal controlled thermonuclear reactor devices with elongated cross section

The neutron flux distribution on the wall of a toroidal CTR device with strongly elongated cross section is calculated. On the inner and outer cylindrical walls (belt-pinch device) the flux distribution has a plateau region with a half-width equal to about the height of the plasma. The maximum flux is found on the outer cylinder and in the symmetry plane (z ₀=0). The neutron flux asymmetry and reductionη of the mean wall loading are determined. For standard data anη of 57% is computed. This is mainly due to the flux profiles on the cylindrical walls and does not depend sensitively on the toroidal curvature. For standard parameters the inner cylinder absorbs 22.6%, the outer cylinder 68.6% and the end plates together 8.8% of the total neutron emission. The corresponding values for a straight device with the same coil and plasma cross section are 44%, 44% and 12%. A reduction of toroidal curvature diminishes flux asymmetry between the inner and outer cylinders. The maximum flux and minimumη-value are obtained at a large torus radius equal to two times the coil width. For small aspect ratios (R _t W0.5) the neutron flux through the inner cylinder becomes so small that its interior may be filled with a material other than a blanket material, e.g. with an iron core.     

Gate field emitter failures: experiment and theory

Intrinsic failures of gated field emitters have been studied. The gate-emitter voltage drops from typical values of 140 V to 10-70 V in less than 10 ns at the onset of a failure. Measurements with an electrostatic probe indicate that plumes of ions and electrons are ejected into vacuum. The measured ion current to the probe is typically 10% of the electron current. The voltage during the event and the ion-to-electron current ratio measured at the probe are characteristic of a cathodic vacuum arc plasma. For series resistors less than 1 kΩ, the arc is continuous, while the series resistors greater than 10 kΩ, the arc is intermittent. Initiation of the failure based on ion-space charge enhancement of the emitter electric field is modeled with the plasma simulation code PDS1. These structures provide a controlled geometry for studying arcs of micron size dimension     

Ion Charge Separation in a Multi‐Species Plasma Flowing through a Magnetic Transport System

Energy spectra of ions of various charged states at different cross‐section of a titanium plasma flow produced with a dc vacuum arc were studied. It was established that ions with different charges states were spatially separated during their travel through a plasma transport system based on a curved magnetic field. Ions with greater charge states were concentrated in the inner part of the curved plasma flow, i.e. closer to the centre of curvature of the field lines, so that the average charge state of ions in this area was higher than that at the outer part of the flow. A computer simulation of guiding a multi‐species plasma flow by a curved magnetic field qualitatively agreed with the experimental data. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Relevance of sub-surface chip layers for the lifetime of magnetically trapped atoms

We investigate the lifetime of magnetically trapped atoms above a planar, layered atom chip structure. Numerical calculations of the thermal magnetic noise spectrum are performed, based on the exact magnetic Green function and multi layer reflection coefficients. We have performed lifetime measurements where the center of a side guide trap is laterally shifted with respect to the current carrying wire using additional bias fields. Comparing the experiment to theory, we find a fair agreement and demonstrate that for a chip whose topmost layer is metallic, the magnetic noise depends essentially on the thickness of that layer, as long as the layers below have a much smaller conductivity; essentially the same magnetic noise would be obtained with a metallic membrane suspended in vacuum. Based on our theory we give general scaling laws of how to reduce the effect of surface magnetic noise on the trapped atoms.