Simulation of the inner electrode geometry effect on the rundown phase characteristics of a coaxial plasma accelerator.

2021 ◽  
Vol 67 (1 Jan-Feb) ◽  
pp. 162
Author(s):  
C. Gómez Samaniego ◽  
M. Nieto Pérez ◽  
G. Ramos López
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Electron Temperature ◽  
Plasma Density ◽  
Transit Time ◽  
Plasma Sheath ◽  
Electrode Geometry ◽  
Current Sheath ◽  
Conical Shape ◽  
Electrode Shape ◽  
Axial Acceleration

A 2D computational model, incorporating the Snowplow approximation in the mass balance, is used to simulate the acceleration of an annular current sheath along two coaxial electrodes, with the inner one having either cylindrical or conical shape. The circuit, mass and momentum equations are simultaneously solved in 2D (r, z) considering initial breakdown along the insulator surface, ideal gas mass accretion by the current sheath (snowplow model) and distributed inductance along a coaxial transmission line short-circuited by the current sheath. Plasma density and electron temperature in the current sheath are estimated using standard planar shock theory. Numerical integration of the model’s equations for a given electrode geometry yields the temporal evolution of the current sheath parameters during the axial acceleration phase. In order to see the effect of the inner electrode shape on sheath parameters (i.e. transit time, kinetic energy, total mass, shape, etc.) and/or circuit properties (i.e. circuit inductance, voltage and current evolution, etc.), the portion of the inner electrode beyond the insulator was given a conical shape. By changing the cone slant in a range between ±5°, it was found that the current driven on the plasma sheath varies nonlinearly with the angle. The divergent (positive angle) electrode gives the sheath the highest kinetic energy, being twice the value corresponding to that of the straight inner electrode case, and the transit time is reduced from 1.34 to 1.20 µs. The estimates of plasma density and electron temperature indicate that the achievable ion densities are on the order of 4x1022 m-3, which corresponds to 30 % ionization, and typical temperatures at the end of the rundown phase are on the order of 8 eV. These values are comparable with those measured in experimental devices. The development of this tool will enable us to benchmark its results against an experimental installation currently close to being operational, and a future follow-up paper will be devoted to the comparison between the prediction of the rundown phase behavior and experimental results utilizing conical electrodes.

Combined influence of axial electron temperature and exponential plasma density ramp on the self-focusing of a chirped laser in plasma

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (7) ◽  
pp. 671-675
Author(s):  
Niti Kant ◽  
Vishal Thakur
Keyword(s):  
Electron Temperature ◽  
Pulse Laser ◽  
Plasma Density ◽  
Beam Width ◽  
Spot Size ◽  
Higher Order ◽  
The Self ◽  
Chirped Pulse ◽  
Self Focusing ◽  
Paraxial Ray

AbstractAn analysis of the self-focusing of highly intense chirped pulse laser under exponential plasma density ramp with higher order value of axial electron temperature has been done. Beam width parameter is derived by using paraxial ray approximation and then solved numerically. It is seen that self-focusing of chirped pulse laser is intensely affected by the higher order values of axial electron temperature. Further, influence of exponential plasma density ramp is studied and it is concluded that self-focusing of laser enhances and occurs earlier. On the other hand defocusing of beam reduces to the great extent. It is noticed that the laser spot size reduces significantly under joint influence of the density ramp and the axial electron temperature. Present analysis may be useful for the analysis of quantum dots, the laser induced fusion and etc.

The attachment length in orificed hollow cathodes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Wordingham ◽  
Pierre-Yves Taunay ◽  
Edgar Choueiri
Keyword(s):  
Electron Temperature ◽  
Plasma Density ◽  
Hollow Cathode ◽  
Computational Models ◽  
Closed Form Solution ◽  
Form Solution ◽  
Decay Length ◽  
Plasma Density Profile ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Approximate Boundary Condition

Abstract A first-principles approach to obtain the attachment length within a hollow cathode with a constrictive orifice, and its scaling with internal cathode pressure, is developed. This parameter, defined herein as the plasma density decay length scale upstream of (away from) the cathode orifice, is critical because it controls the utilization of the hollow cathode insert and influences cathode life. A two-dimensional framework is developed from the ambipolar diffusion equation for the insert-region plasma. A closed-form solution for the plasma density is obtained using standard partial differential equation techniques by applying an approximate boundary condition at the cathode orifice plane. This approach also yields the attachment length and electron temperature without reliance on measured plasma property data or complex computational models. The predicted plasma density profile is validated against measurements from the NSTAR discharge cathode, and calculated electron temperatures and attachment lengths agree with published values. Nondimensionalization of the governing equations reveals that the solution depends almost exclusively on the neutral pressure-diameter product in the insert plasma region. Evaluation of analytical results over a wide range of input parameters yields scaling relations for the variation of the attachment length and electron temperature with the pressure-diameter product. For the range of orifice-to-insert diameter ratio studied, the influence of orifice size is shown to be small except through its effect on insert pressure, and the attachment length is shown to be proportional to the insert inner radius, suggesting high-pressure cathodes should be constructed with larger-diameter inserts.

Influence of peak current on substrate plasma sheath properties of Ti films deposited by high-power pulsed magnetron sputtering

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (01n03) ◽  
pp. 1940016
Author(s):  
C. Z. Chen ◽  
D. L. Ma ◽  
N. Huang ◽  
Y. X. Leng
Keyword(s):  
Magnetron Sputtering ◽  
Equivalent Circuit ◽  
Plasma Density ◽  
High Power ◽  
Equivalent Circuit Model ◽  
Film Structure ◽  
Circuit Model ◽  
Plasma Sheath ◽  
Peak Current ◽  
Pulsed Magnetron

For film deposition, the substrate sheath properties, such as the plasma density, ion-to-atom ratios around the substrate, are more important for the film structure. In this paper, titanium thin films were deposited on grounded substrates by high-power pulsed magnetron sputtering (HPPMS) with the peak current in the range of 113–185 A. A simple and new equivalent circuit model of the sheath was established to study the plasma density around the substrate sheath. The Ti ion-to-atom ratios near substrate were studied by optical emission spectroscopy (OES), and the film structure was detected by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that the calculated plasma density was from 0.8 × 10[Formula: see text] to 1.4 × 10[Formula: see text] m[Formula: see text] at different peak current. These were consistent with the results measured by a modified one-grid ion collector using saturation current probe method, which proved our proposed equivalent circuit model was correct. The Ti ion-to-atom ratios around the substrate were estimated at about 24%–62%. The plasma density and ion to atom ratio around the substrate increased with the peak current, and this could lead to a higher film crystallization and preference growth on Ti (101) and (100).

PICASSO: The Golden CubeSat

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noel Baker ◽  
Michel Anciaux ◽  
Philippe Demoulin ◽  
Didier Fussen ◽  
Didier Pieroux ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Temperature ◽  
Plasma Density ◽  
Space Science ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Vertical Profiles ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Scientific Instruments ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Spacecraft Potential

<p>Led by the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy, the ESA-backed mission PICASSO (PICo-Satellite for Atmospheric and Space Science Observations) successfully launched its gold-plated satellite on an Arianespace Vega rocket in September 2020. PICASSO is a 3U CubeSat mission in collaboration with VTT Technical Research Center of Finland Ltd, AAC Clyde Space Ltd. (UK), and the CSL (Centre Spatial de Liège), Belgium. The commissioning of the two onboard scientific instruments is currently ongoing; once they are operational, PICASSO will be capable of providing scientific measurements of the Earth’s atmosphere. VISION, proposed by BISA and developed by VTT, will retrieve vertical profiles of ozone and temperature by observing the Earth's atmospheric limb during orbital Sun occultation; and SLP, developed by BISA, will measure in situ plasma density and electron temperature together with the spacecraft potential.</p><p>Serving as a groundbreaking proof-of-concept, the PICASSO mission has taught valuable lessons about the advantages of CubeSat technology as well as its many complexities and challenges. These lessons learned, along with preliminary measurements from the two instruments, will be presented and discussed.</p>

Comparison of plasma-density and electron-temperature profiles during the auroral modelling campaign ARIES

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (8-9) ◽  
pp. 950-958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joëlle Margot ◽  
A. G. McNamara
Keyword(s):  
Electron Temperature ◽  
Plasma Density ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Primary Electron ◽  
Temperature Profiles ◽  
Height Distribution ◽  
Optical Intensity ◽  
High Energy Electron ◽  
E Region ◽  
Primary Electrons

Plasma-density and electron-temperature profiles were measured during the auroral modelling campaign ARIES. This campaign consisted of two rockets launched in the auroral E region under different geophysical conditions. The plasma-density and electron-temperature behaviours were tentatively related to the energy and intensity of the ionizing primary-electron fluxes. It is concluded that the plasma-density height distribution can be used to estimate the primary-electrons energy. The set of data presented is sufficiently complete to allow, when used together with other types of experiments such as the height distribution of the optical intensity and the high-energy electron spectra, the achievement of the objective of the ARIES multi-instrument campaign, i.e., refinement of the auroral model.

Influence of magnetic field on plasma sheath and electron temperature

2001 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
pp. 2282-2287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bornali Singha ◽  
A. Sarma ◽  
Joyanti Chutia
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Electron Temperature ◽  
Plasma Sheath
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