Multiplex H_2 CARS thermometry in a microwave assisted diamond CVD plasma

Rapid temperature measurements in a low pressure, microwave assisted, diamond CVD plasma are reported. By using a “modeless” laser as the Stokes source for H CARS, accurate single-shot and averaged temperatures were obtained which agreed with values obtained from laser induced fluorescence measurements. The speed of data acquisition afforded by multiplex CARS allowed variations of temperature to be monitored with changing plasma conditions induced by variations of pressure, gas composition and microwave power. The application of the technique for “on-line” monitoring of plasma processes is briefly discussed. Received: 13 February 1996 / Accepted: 12 June 1996     

Determination of the thermal conductivity of polycrystalline diamond films by means of the photoacoustic effect

A new method of determining the heat-conducting properties of diamond films is proposed, based on the photoacoustic effect. This method is used to study diamond polycrystalline films grown on silicon by chemical vapor deposition in a microwave discharge plasma. The thermal conductivity obtained was approximately half that for single-crystal diamond. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 69, 97–101 (April 1999)     

Prominent characteristics of the decay of a photoplasma generated by radiation from an annular sliding discharge

The dynamics of the absorption of diagnostic microwave radiation in a decaying nitrogen photoplasma generated by a pulsed annular sliding discharge is modeled numerically. It is shown that the microwave absorption coefficient can vary nonmonotonically with time (as observed in the majority of experimental studies) during recombinative plasma decay. The nonmonotonic behavior is attributed to gasdynamic processes induced by the annular sliding discharge, which cause the plasma region to expand along the axis of the sensing microwave beam. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 68, 51–55 (July 1998)     

Ultrafast photodetectors based on the interaction of microwave radiation and a photoexcited plasma in semiconductors

The interaction of microwave radiation with the plasma in photoionized semiconductor photocells (CdS, CdSe) placed in waveguide measurement systems is investigated theoretically and experimentally. The interaction of the characteristic waveguide modes with a photoexcited semiconductor plasma is investigated. The dependence of the reflection coefficient and phase of the microwave radiation on the intensity of the optical radiation to be measured is obtained, and the influence of the surface of the semiconductor photocells on these parameters is investigated. A microwave photodetector design based on a millimeter-wave interferometer is developed. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 68, 94–98 (November 1998)     

Cosmic microwave background and first molecules in the early universe

Besides the Hubble expansion of the universe, the main evidence in favor of the big-bang theory was the discovery, by Penzias and Wilson, of the cosmic microwave background (hereafter CMB) radiation. In 1990, the COBE satellite (Cosmic Background Explorer) revealed an accurate black-body behavior with a temperature around 2.7 K. Although the microwave background is very smooth, the COBE satellite did detect small variations—at the level of one part in 100 000—in the temperature of the CMB from place to place in the sky. These ripples are caused by acoustic oscillations in the primordial plasma. While COBE was only sensitive to long-wavelength waves, the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP)—with its much higher resolution—reveals that the CMB temperature variations follow the distinctive pattern predicted by cosmological theory. Moreover, the existence of the microwave background allows cosmologists to deduce the conditions present in the early stages of the big bang and, in particular, helps to account for the chemistry of the universe. This report summarizes the latest measurements and studies of the CMB with the new calculations about the formation of primordial molecules. The PLANCK mission—planned to be launched in 2009—is also presented.     

Convective model of a microwave discharge in a gas at atmospheric pressure in the form of a spatially localized plasma

Experiments and a theoretical model consistent with them are presented which show that a stationary microwave discharge in a gas at atmospheric pressure under the action of free convection due to the action of the buoyant force on the heated air can be spatially localized, taking a spheroidal shape. Vortex motion inside the spheroid gives this localized plasma formation some of the properties of a material body which are manifested in a distinct material isolation from the surrounding space, in the formation of a narrow thermal boundary layer and flow separation, and in the formation of secondary vortices in the wake region. The characteristic radius of the stationary localized plasma is governed mainly by the wavelength of the microwave radiation a∼0.137λ. Energy balance is established to a significant degree by convective cooling of the microwave-heated structure. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 112, 877–893 (September 1997)     

Generation of cold electrons in the downstream region of a microwave plasma source with near boundary resonances for production of negative ions

A microwave driven multicusp plasma based volume negative ion source equipped with a magnetic filter is developed. Instead of employing any electrodes or current carrying filaments, microwaves of frequency 2.45 GHz is used to generate plasma by resonance heating mechanisms namely the electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) and upper hybrid resonances (UHR), occurring near the boundary plasma layers. The principal process of negative ion production in hydrogen is dissociative attachment of low energy (0.5–1.0 eV) electrons to vibrationally excited neutral molecules generated from high energy (15–20 eV) electron impact. The source therefore necessitates two distinct spatial regions (a) production and (b) attachment chambers; which would contain electrons with optimum cross section for the aforementioned processes. A biased grid after the magnetic filter further helps to lower down the electron temperature to ≤1 eV which is favorable for the dissociative attachment process.     

Thermodiffusional stratification of a continuous microwave discharge plasma

We report the results of investigations of a continuous microwave discharge ignited in a quasioptical resonant cavity. We study a new phenomenon for such a discharge: a small-scale stratification of the plasma in the direction perpendicular to the electric field vector. This stratification is observed in a plasma with electron density higher than the critical density at the microwave frequency and is due to the development of a thermocurrent instability. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 67, No. 8, 537–542 (25 April 1998)     

Application of atmospheric pressure microwave plasma source for production of hydrogen via methane reforming

In this paper, results of hydrogen production via methane pyrolysis in the atmospheric pressure microwave plasma with CH₄ swirl are presented. A waveguide-based nozzleless cylinder-type microwave plasma source (MPS) was used to convert methane into hydrogen. The plasma generation was stabilized by a CH₄ swirl having a flow rate of 87.5 L min^-1. The absorbed microwave power was 1.5–5 kW. The hydrogen production rate and the corresponding energy efficiency were 866 g (H₂) h^-1 and 577 g (H₂) kWh^-1 of microwave energy absorbed by the plasma, respectively. These parameters are better than our previous results when nitrogen was used as a swirl gas and much better than those typical for other plasma methods of hydrogen production (electron beam, gliding arc, plasmatron).     

Coherent backscattering of electromagnetic waves in a magnetised plasma

Summary A microwave coherent backscattering experiment has been carried out on Mirabelle, a weakly ionised plasma device, with the objective of measuring the electron density fluctuation level. The experiment is a preliminary step in order to prepare the detection system for a microwave stimulated backscattering experiment. The incident electromagnetic wave is focused in front of a plane grid which excites ion acoustic or electron Bernstein waves inducing fluctuations in the plasma. The backscattering signal is collected by the launching circuit and detected by homodyne mixing. The typical ratio of the scattered power to the incident power is about 10⁻¹² and the relative density fluctuations are of the order of δn _e/n _e=10⁻³ against a background electron density ofn _e=1–5·10⁹ cm⁻³. The backscattering measurement is compared with Langmuir probe measurements. The spectral width of the backscattered signal has also been studied, by taking into account effects due to the incident wave focusing and plasma wave damping. The authors of this paper have agreed to not receive the proofs for correction     

Simulation of interaction of radiation with nanoparticles

Enhancement of microwave radiation at wavelength λ ∼ 10 cm in a cavity is simulated using the system of constituent equations derived earlier. It is shown that a radiation energy density of W ∼ 1000 J/m³ can be attained. Pumping of the medium containing conducting nanoparticles is carried out with a stationary electric field. The required mass concentration of nanoparticles and pumping field are estimated. A method of obtaining active medium using a statitionary electric field for enhancement of microwave radiation in a wavelength range of λ ∼ 10 cm is proposed. In this method, extended conducting nanoparticles should be sputtered.     

Microwave energy channeling in plasma waveguides created by a high-power UV laser in the atmosphere

The grazing mode of microwave propagation in a hollow plasma waveguide formed by ionization of atmospheric air with a small easily ionized additive by strong UV pulses of the Garpun KrF laser (λ = 248 nm, the pulse duration and energy are ∼70 ns and ∼50 J) was experimentally demonstrated for the first time. The annular laser beam produced a hollow tube ∼10 cm in diameter with an electron density of ∼10¹² cm⁻³ in a plasma wall ∼1 cm thick, over whichmicrowave radiation with λ _mw ∼ 8 mm was transmitted to a distance of 60 m. Themicrowave signal transmitted by the waveguide was amplified by a factor of 6 in comparison with propagation in free space.     

Dynamics of the transport barrier formation on the FT-2 tokamak caused by lower hybrid heating

Experiments at the FT-2 tokamak had demonstrated effective plasma LH heating, which was accounted for by both direct absorption of RF power and plasma transport suppression. The improved core confinement accompanied by Internal Transport Barrier (ITB) formation was observed. The RF pulse switch off is followed by triggering of LH transition and the External Transport Barrier (ETB) formation near the last closed flux surface. The present paper is devoted to a much more detailed study of the radial electric fieldE _r behaviour in the region of ITB and ETB and its influence on the tokamak microturbulence in these regions. The new experimental data were obtained by spatial spectroscopic technique using additional pulse helium puffing in hydrogen plasma. Simultaneously microscale plasma oscillations in the frequency band (0.01–2) MHz are observed with local enhanced microwave scattering diagnostics and by x-mode fluctuation reflectometry. Experiments demonstrate that the improved confinement is associated with the modification of microturbulence by the shear of theE×B poloidal velocity. This conclusion is also confirmed by the data obtained by Langmuir probes in the edge plasma. Presented at 5th Workshop “Role of Electric Fields in Plasma Confinement and Exhaust”, Montreux, Switzerland, June 23–24, 2002”. The study was performed with the support of the Ministry of General and Professional Education of RF (TOO-7.4-2797), INTAS-01-2056 and the RFBR Grants 00-02-16927, 01-02-17926 and 02-02-17684.     

Microwave diagnostics of ultracold neutral plasma

The microwave method is suggested to diagnose the ultracold neutral plasma. Based on the calculations of the dipole radiation, we derive the microwave scattering cross section of the ultracold neutral plasma, and microwave power scattered by the ultracold plasma is calculated as a function of time. The scattering cross section is nearly ¹⁰−11 m².     

Electron cyclotron resonance breakdown studies in a linear plasma system

Electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma breakdown is studied in a small linear cylindrical system with four different gases — hydrogen, helium, argon and nitrogen. Microwave power in the experimental system is delivered by a magnetron at 2.45 ± 0.02 GHz in TE₁₀ mode and launched radially to have extra-ordinary (X) wave in plasma. The axial magnetic field required for ECR in the system is such that the fundamental ECR surface (B = 875.0 G) resides at the geometrical centre of the plasma system. ECR breakdown parameters such as plasma delay time and plasma decay time from plasma density measurements are carried out at the centre using a Langmuir probe. The operating parameters such as working gas pressure (1 × 10⁻⁵−1× 10⁻² mbar) and input microwave power (160–800 W) are varied and the corresponding effect on the breakdown parameters is studied. The experimental results obtained are presented in this paper.      

Deeply undercritical microwave discharge excited by the field of a quasi-optical electromagnetic beam in a supersonic air jet

Electric discharge in a supersonic air jet is studied. It is ignited in a linearly polarized quasi-optical microwave electromagnetic beam the initial field intensity of which is much lower than the breakdown level. Electric breakdown is initiated by a tubular electromagnetic vibrator, one end of which has spikes and is covered by a quartz tube. Atmospheric air enters into a low-pressure working chamber through the inner channel of the vibrator. As a result, an immersed supersonic air jet forms in the chamber at the outlet from the quartz tube. A microwave discharge ignited in this jet is “attached” to aft spikes of the vibrator. The energy deposit into the discharge plasma and the effective area of energy interaction between the discharge and excited microwave field are estimated from the temperature and stagnation pressure distributions in the wake of the discharge.     

Inflammation dynamics of thin alcohol films under the action of a surface microwave discharge initiated in atmospheric-pressure air

Rapid nonthermal plasma-stimulated inflammation of liquid hydrocarbon (alcohol) films is realized under the conditions of a surface microwave discharge initiated in quiescent atmospheric-pressure air. The induction period is found, and the velocity of the intense combustion front is determined. Combustion is initiated by the low-temperature plasma of the surface microwave discharge that exists at high values of the reduced electric field. It is shown that the induction period varies between 10 and 100 μs depending on the input power, the plasma-stimulated inflammation occurs on the antenna at the site where the surface microwave discharge burns, and the velocity of the intense combustion front near the antenna reaches 300–350 m/s.     

Hybrid Transmission Line for ECRH in the Helically Symmetric Experiment

The HSX oversized, mode-converting ECRH transmission line has been upgraded to a hybrid system to increase launched microwave power and reduce electrical arcing. Filtering of high-order, spurious modes ensures efficient coupling to a Gaussian beam for optimal electron heating. A Vlasov mode converter and two phase-correcting ellipsoidal mirrors convert the TE₀₂ gyrotron output mode to a symmetric, linearly polarized, microwave beam. A swappable twist reflector plate rotates beam polarization for 2nd-harmonic X-mode or fundamental O-mode ECRH. Long distances are traversed by coupling the beam to a dual-mode (TE₁₁ + TM₁₁), smooth, circular cross-section waveguide. This system has been successfully tested without arcing for 50 ms pulses and over 100 kW of launched power. Analysis of the microwave beam for 50 kW, 2 ms microwave pulses reveals agreement with predicted beam shapes at two beam locations. The new system has also demonstrated increased plasma stored energy for ECRH plasmas with equal launched power.     

Two-channel 100-MW microwave compressor for the three-centimeter wavelength range

We present the results of the studies of a 100-megawatt active two-channel compressor of microwave pulses for the three-centimeter wavelength range. The compressors of the transit and reflector types are excited at the TE₀₁ mode of a circular waveguide, and the energy is output by using resonance plasma switches. The channels of the compressors are connected to a microwave oscillator and a load via a special quasioptical 3-dB directional coupler with enhanced electric strength. The use of the quasioptical coupler allows one to ensure the decoupling of the input microwave line (by about 20 dB) and combine coherently the pulses compressed in each of the compressor channel. High-and low-power tests of the compressors have been performed and the wave phase in the compressed pulses has been measured. The pulses obtained for an incident power of 5 MW have a power of 40–53 MW, a duration of 40–60 ns, and a power gain greater than 10. The compression efficiency amounts to 55%. The stability and good reproducibility of the amplitude and frequency characteristics of the radiation from a two-channel compressor make it promising for use in the linear accelerators of charged particles. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 51, No. 8, pp. 660–674, August 2008.     

Plasma parameters of a nonself-sustained microwave discharge created by a programmed pulse

The kinetics of the electrons in the plasma of a nonself-sustained discharge formed at the focus of a microwave beam when the gas is exposed to electromagnetic radiation with an energy flux density that varies with time in a programmed-pulse mode are investigated. It is shown that the temperature of the electrons in the plasma of the localized microwave discharge is of the order of 1 eV and varies weakly during the pump pulse and as the air pressure is varied, while the electron density is an order of magnitude or more lower than the critical density and depends on the level of the pump generator power. It is shown that the degree of ionization of the plasma can be regulated by altering the programmed-pulse mode. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 67, 19–23 (July 1997)