Variation of plasma parameters in a modified mode of plasma production in a double plasma device

A modified mode of plasma production in a double plasma device is presented and plasma parameters are controlled in this configuration. Here plasma is produced by applying a discharge voltage between the hot filaments in the source (cathode) and the target magnetic cage (anode) of the device. In this configuration, the hot electron emitting filaments are present only in the source and the magnetic cage of this is kept at a negative bias such that due to the repulsion of the cage bias, the primary electrons can go to the grounded target and produce plasma there. The plasma parameters can be controlled by varying the voltages applied to the source magnetic cage and the separation grid of the device.     

Effect of cold electron emission on diffusion plasma parameters and the sheath structure in a double plasma device

It is observed experimentally that by injecting cold electrons in the discharge region of a double plasma device, the plasma parameters and sheath structure can be controlled in the other region, which is devoid of any electrical discharge. The main discharge region is separated from the region under investigation by a grounded mesh grid. Both cold and hot ionizing electrons are emitted from separate sets of filaments in the discharge region. With an increase in the cold electron emission current, the plasma parameters in the discharge region get changed, which in turn alter the plasma parameters in the other region. Two important effects caused by cold electrons in the diffusion region are the increase in the plasma density and decrease in the plasma potential. The increase in the plasma density and decrease in the sheath potential drop therefore cause the contraction of the sheath.     

DC column plasma kinetics in a longitudinal magnetic field

The cylindrical column plasma of a neon dc glow discharge under the influence of a weak longitudinal magnetic field is studied. An extended, fully self-consistent model of the column plasma has been used to determine the kinetic quantities of electrons, ions and excited atoms, the radial space charge field, and the axial electric field for given discharge conditions. The model includes a nonlocal kinetic treatment of the electrons by solving their spatially inhomogeneous kinetic equation, taking into account the radial space charge field and the axial magnetic field. The treatment is based on the two-term expansion of the velocity distribution and comprises the determination of its isotropic and anisotropic components in the axial, radial, and azimuthal direction. A transition from a distinctly nonlocal kinetic behavior of the electrons in the magnetic-field-free case to an almost local kinetic behavior has been found by increasing the magnetic field. The establishment of the electron cyclotron motion around the column axis increasingly restricts the radial electron energy transport and reduces the radial ambipolar current. The complex interaction of these transport phenomena with the alterations in the charge carrier production leads finally to a specific variation of the electric field components. The axial field increases by applying weak magnetic fields, however, decreases with increasingly higher magnetic fields. At higher magnetic fields, the radial space-charge field is considerably reduced     

四阳极直流辉光放电正柱区数值分析

分析了具有中间开窗电极四阳极直流辉光放电装置的氦气放电中阴极与较近阳极间放电正柱区的电子密度、电子温度和等离子体碰撞频率, 及其空间分布随放电气压变化规律。结果表明电子密度在径向上呈类似于抛物线的分布, 而碰撞频率和电子温度在整个放电管内近似均匀分布。探讨了不锈钢阳极座和矩形窗口对这些参数的影响, 为进一步进行装置仿真和实验研究提供参考。     

Time-resolved analysis of the X-ray emission of femtosecond-laser-produced plasmas in the 1.5-keV range

Recent experimental results on ion beams produced in high-intensity laser–solid interactions indicate the presence of very intense electric fields in the target. This suggests the possibility of efficiently heating a solid material by means of the fast electrons created during the laser–solid interactions and trapped in the target, rather than by the laser photons themselves. We tested this mechanism by irradiating very small cubic aluminum targets with the LULI 100-TW, 300-fs laser at 1.06-m wavelength. X-ray spectra were measured with an ultra-fast streak camera, coupled to a conical Bragg crystal, providing spectra in the 1.5-keV range with high temporal and spectral resolution. The results indicate the creation of a hot plasma, but a very low coupling between the rapid electrons and the solid. A tentative explanation, in agreement with other experimental results and with preliminary particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, points out the fatal role of the laser prepulse. PACS 52.50.Jm; 52.38.Ph; 52.38.Kd     

Effect of Electron Velocity Distribution on the Heating of Core by Corona in a Spherical Pellet

When a spherical plasma pellet is irradiated symmetrically from all sides by high power laser beams, hot electrons are produced at the plasma resonance layer. They move in the inward radial direction causing a counter-streaming cold electron current flowing outwardly to maintain the charge neutrality. In general, the interaction between the hot electrons and the counter-streaming cold background electrons leads to broadening of the velocity distribution of the latter. For a given heat flux, the electron velocity distribution constrained by the requirements for not supporting beam plasma instabilities, predicts a minimum electron velocity in the plasma ablation zone. These considerations affect the efficiency of heat transfer from the hot corona to the cold core. The purpose of this paper is to study the dependence of core-corona coupling on the electron velocity distribution, laser wavelength and other plasma parameters in detail.     

电子迥旋加热等离子体及热电子环特性的实验研究

在简单磁镜MM-2中,采用15GHZ大功率迴旋管进行了电子迴旋共振加热(ECRH)实验。结果表明,随充气压强的提高,预电离时间迅速变短。在高气压“C-模式”运行区,等离子体径向密度分布呈马鞍形。在迴旋管输出30kW功率的条件下,适于建立热电子环的气体压力窗为(0.4—1.2)×10^-5Torr。利用一个可移动Laugmuir探针配合反磁测量的简便方法,在中心场为2.95kG时,确定了电子环半径为7cm,环厚约4cm,环的轴向边界由z=±10cm一直延伸到z=±20cm。热电子温度为140—170keV,热电环平均β值为(4—5)％。观测到了由热电子环不稳定性引起的迸发式径向电子逃逸,并同时发生反磁信号跌落。     

On the theory of plasma instability in an “oscillating discharge”

The paper studies the stability of plasma in an oscillating discharge [1], Within the framework of linear theory, an analysis is given of several types of instabilities in a mixture of hot electrons and cold plasma, caused by the radial inhomogeneity of the density of the hot electrons.In conclusion, the author thanks A. B. Mikhailovski for pointing out this problem and for valuable discussions.     

气压对微束射频容性放电模式调制的研究

微束射频容性放电在纳米晶体颗粒等离子体增强气相合成有着潜在的应用前景.本论文利用ICCD、单反相机、高压探头和电流探头等对微束射频容性放电特性进行了实验诊断研究.结果发现:在纯氩气微束射频放电中,随着气压的增加,放电从辉光放电模式向多通道丝状放电模式转换;在99%氩/1%氢混合气体微束射频放电中,丝状放电模式消失,而是从低气压全空间分布的辉光放电模式,到中等气压向轴心收缩的辉光放电模式,最后到高气压的“环状”辉光放电模式;而在纯氢气微束射频放电中,随着气压的增加,放电模式直接从全空间分布的辉光放电模式向“环状”辉光放电模式转换.最后通过射频电场中电子加热、趋肤效应和气体热传导的共同作用解释了产生不同放电模式的物理机制.     

Simulation study of the sheath region of a processing plasma with two-temperature electrons and charged nanoparticles

A four-fluid model is used to investigate the structure of a dusty plasma sheath with two species of electrons, i.e., cold and hot electrons. Numerical results show that, in the presence of hot electrons, regular fluctuations are developed in the spatial profiles of the sheath potential and number densities of the plasma and dust nanoparticles. The amplitude and spatial period of the fluctuations depend on the hot electron parameters. The sheath width shows a non-monotonic dependence on the temperature and number density of the hot electrons, as well as the density and Mach number of the nanoparticles.     

超短超强激光产生正电子的蒙特卡罗模拟

通过理论分析,建立了超短超强激光与固体靶作用产生正电子的蒙特卡罗模拟模型及Geant4模拟程序。模拟研究了靶材料、靶厚度及超热电子温度等对正电子产额的影响,结果表明:对铝、铜、锡、钽、金、铅6种靶材料,金靶的正电子产额最高,是优秀的正电子产生靶;不同超热电子温度下存在不同的最佳靶厚度,在最佳靶厚度以下,正电子产额随靶厚度增长而增大,靶厚度取3 mm较为合适;超热电子温度越高,正电子产额也越高,提高激光强度是增加正电子产额的有效途径。模拟研究给出了正电子角分布及其能谱,结果显示,正电子发射明显前倾,从大于90方向范围发射的正电子数量极少,且超热电子温度越高前倾特点越明显,能量呈类麦克斯韦分布,靶背法线方向出射的正电子的温度随超热电子温度升高而升高。     

Experimental study of a drifting low temperature plasma extracted from a magnetized plasma column

In a new divertor simulator, a very cold recombining plasma is produced after transverse electric extraction from a dense magnetized plasma column. The plasma is characterized using probes, spectroscopic measurements, and ultra-fast imaging of spontaneous emission. This new technique is shown to be very useful for the investigation of the recombination processes.     

Potential formation in a bounded two-electron temperature plasma system with floating collector that emits electrons

Formation of the plasma potential in a plasma that contains energetic electrons and is bounded by a floating collector that emits electrons is studied theoretically. The problem is treated by a static. kinetic plasma-sheath model of Schwager and Birdsall [Phys. Fluids B2 (1990) 1057], which we have extended in order to include additional energetic electron population. The distribution of these electrons is assumed to be a high-temperature Maxwellian. They are called hot electrons. In the paper we study effects of the density and temperature of the hot electrons on the formation of the plasma potential. The model shows that for certain densities and temperatures of the hot electron population plasmas with two different plasma potentials can coexist in the system. These two plasmas are separated spatially by a double layer. For the case when there is no emission of electrons from the collector, results of the model are compared with computer simulation and very good agreement between the model and the simulation is found. The simulation also confirms existence of two plasmas with two different potentials separated by a double layer.     

转镜式高速相机扫描速度检测装置及不确定度评定

基于光电转换基本原理，设计并研制了用于转镜式高速扫描相机扫描速度的检测装置，包括均匀脉冲光源、精密双狭缝、超快响应光电转换器以及高带宽、高采样率数字示波器等。论述了检测装置的核心部件，用该装置实测了SJZ-15型转镜扫描相机名义扫速为4．5mm／μs的扫描速度，计算出了扫速不均匀性。按照国军标GJB3756，对检测装置的测量不确定度来源进行了分析，给出了该装置的不确定度评定方法及测量不确定度，对检测结果的评定表明，该检测装置的相对测量不确定度不大于0．1%，远低于目前转镜扫描相机的最大扫速不均匀性水平。实验证明，设计的检测装置具有很高的准确度和可靠性。     

Effects of Energetic Electrons on Collector and Source Potentials in a Finite Ion Temperature Plasma

Formation of the potential in a two-electron-temperature plasma region facing a floating collector was studied theoretically with a kinetic plasma-sheath model and by electrostatic particle simulation. The electrons were described by truncated full Maxwellian velocity distribution functions and the ions by an accelerated half-Maxwellian velocity distribution function. The collector potential and the plasma source sheath or presheath potential drop were evaluated as functions of the hot to cool electron temperature ratio and the hot electron density ratio using Vlasov and Poison equations. The results showed that the presheath potential drop varied continuously with electron composition ratio for lower values of the electron temperature ratio, while for higher values in a narrow composition ratio range, triple values of the potential were found. Of the two physically acceptable values, the lower was characterized by the cool electrons and the higher by the hot electrons. It is anticipated that a current-free double layer structure is formed in the plasma system between these two potential regions. The collector floating potential, as a function of electron composition ratio, is mainly dominated by the hot electrons, since already a small value of hot electron current is sufficient to compensate the ion saturation current. In order to complete the theoretical investigation we also study the hydrogen plasma system with the XPDP1 particule-in-cell simulation code composed at Berkeley. At certain plasma parameter values formation of a double layer structure was observed. The potential Values on the upper and lower side of the double layer, as well as that of the collector floating potential, corresponded very well to the calculated values. On the upper side the plasma was composed of ions, accelerated through the source sheath potential drop, and electrons consisting of cool full Maxwellian and hot truncated full Maxwellian populations. On the lower side only hot electrons and ions additionally accelerated through the double layer were found.     

Generation of a dense electron beam in a thin film using an ultraintense femtosecond laser pulse

Electron dynamics in a thin target irradiated with femtosecond laser pulses at an intensity of 10²⁰ W/cm² is studied in the framework of the kinetic theory of laser plasma based on the construction of propagators (in classical limit) for electron and ion distribution functions in plasma. The calculations are performed for real densities and charges of plasma ions. Electrons are partly ejected from the target. The laser pulse energy is predominantly absorbed by electrons, and the electrons are accelerated to relatively high energies.     

Tonks-Langmuir problem for a bi-Maxwellian plasma

An analytical solution of the Tonks-Langmuir (TL) problem with a bi-Maxwellian electron energy distribution function (EEDF) is obtained for a plasma slab. The solution shows that the ambipolar potential, the plasma density distribution, and the ion flux to the wall are mainly governed by the cold electrons, while the ionization rate and voltage drop across the wall sheath are governed by the hot electrons. The ionization rate by direct electron impact is found to be spatially rather uniform, contrary to the T-L solution where it is proportional to the plasma density distribution. The temperature of hot electrons defined by the ionization balance is found to be close to that of the T-L solution for a mono-Maxwellian EEDF, and is in reasonable agreement with experiments carried out in a low pressure capacitance RF discharge. The energy balance for cold electrons in this discharge shows that their heating by hot electrons via Coulomb interaction is equalized by the cold electrons' escape to the RF electrodes during collapse of the RF sheath     

HT-7装置液态锂限制器实验中锂的腐蚀与沉积特性的研究

在磁约束聚变等离子体装置中, 面对等离子体的第一壁将直接影响高温等离子体性能及第一壁寿命, 具有表面自我修复的、能有效抑制边界粒子再循环的液态金属锂第一壁越来越被重视, 其中液态锂第一壁与等离子体相互作用的研究尤其重要. 本文研究了HT-7装置液态锂限制器实验中锂的表面腐蚀及在装置内沉积特性、及其对等离子体性能影响. 实验表明, 当锂与等离子体相互作用较弱时, 锂以微弱的蒸发及溅射形式从表面腐蚀并进入等离子体, 表现为锂的线辐射有所增强, 等离子体内杂质水平降低, 氢再循环降低, 有利于等离子体约束性能提高; 当锂与等离子体间的相互作用比较强时, 锂主要以锂滴形式直接进入等离子体, 引起锂的辐射爆发, 最终引发等离子体放电破裂. 通过对锂斑及样品的分析发现, 锂主要沉积在限制器周围, 并且在低场侧及沿着等离子体电流方向沉积居多, 表现为极向和环向分布不均匀, 这也导致边界粒子再循环分布的不均匀. 这些实验为研究液态锂第一壁与等离子体相互作用, 分析液态锂第一壁在托卡马克装置上应用具有重要参考意义.     

Experimental demonstration of plasma-drag acceleration of a dust cloud to hypervelocities

Simultaneous acceleration of hundreds of dust particles to hypervelocities by collimated plasma flows ejected from a coaxial gun is demonstrated. Graphite and diamond grains with radii between 5 and 30 microm, and flying at speeds up to 3.7 km/s, have been recorded with a high-speed camera. The observations agree well with a model for plasma-drag acceleration of microparticles much larger than the plasma screening length.     

Nondipole parameters of TDCS for electron impact ionization and drag current

A comprehensive study is undertaken of angular distributions of electron knock-out from atomic targets by fast electrons with a small transfer of momentum. The general expressions for the parameters of the triple differential cross-section of impact ionization in the optical limit are derived. The calculated parameters are compared with those of the angular distribution of electrons ejected from an atom in the process of photoionization. In these processes, when the multipole transitions are involved, the one-to-one correspondence between the photoionization and impact ionization parameters disappears. The nondipole transitions lead to the backward/forward asymmetry of the angular distribution of ejected electrons that is absent in the dipole approximation for ionization by both fast electrons and photons. Using the He atom as an example, the character of the asymmetry for these two processes is qualitatively different and the backward/forward asymmetry results in macroscopic directed motion of secondary electrons accompanying the passing of a fast electron beam through gas or plasma. The general formulas for this drag current are derived and applied to gaseous He.