Production of low-density plasma by coaxially segmented rf discharge for void-free dusty cloud in microgravity experiments

Journal Article · Mon Mar 20 00:00:00 EST 2006 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2187500· OSTI ID:20778845

Suzukawa, Wataru; Ikada, Reijiro; Tanaka, Yasuhiro; Iizuka, Satoru ^[1]

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1. Department of Electrical Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8579 (Japan)

A technique is presented for producing a low density plasma by introducing a coaxially segmented parallel-plate radio-frequency discharge for void-free dusty-cloud formation. Main plasma for the dusty plasma experiment is produced in a central core part of the parallel-plate discharge, while a plasma for igniting the core plasma discharge is produced in the periphery region surrounding the core plasma. The core plasma density can be markedly decreased to reduce the ion drag force, which is important for a formation of void-free dusty cloud under microgravity.

• OSTI ID: 20778845
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 88, Issue 12; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2187500; (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
CLOUDS
HIGH-FREQUENCY DISCHARGES
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
WEIGHTLESSNESS