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Title: A Thomson-type mass and energy spectrometer for characterizing ion energy distributions in a coaxial plasma gun operating in a gas-puff mode

Abstract

Measurements of ion energy distribution are performed in the accelerated plasma of a coaxial electromagnetic plasma gun operating in a gas-puff mode at relatively low discharge energy (900 J) and discharge potential (4 kV). The measurements are made using a Thomson-type mass and energy spectrometer with a gated microchannel plate and phosphor screen as the ion sensor. The parabolic ion trajectories are captured from the sensor screen with an intensified charge-coupled detector camera. The spectrometer was designed and calibrated using the Geant4 toolkit, accounting for the effects on the ion trajectories of spatial non-uniformities in the spectrometer magnetic and electric fields. Results for hydrogen gas puffs indicate the existence of a class of accelerated protons with energies well above the coaxial discharge potential (up to 24 keV). The Thomson analyzer confirms the presence of impurities of copper and iron, also of relatively high energies, which are likely erosion or sputter products from plasma-electrode interactions.

Authors:
; ;  [1]
  1. High Temperature Gasdynamics Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22227978
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physics of Plasmas
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 20; Journal Issue: 7; Other Information: (c) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; COPPER; ELECTRIC DISCHARGES; ELECTRIC FIELDS; ELECTRODES; ENERGY SPECTRA; IONS; IRON; KEV RANGE; PLASMA; PLASMA ACCELERATION; PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS; PLASMA GUNS; PLASMA IMPURITIES; POTENTIALS; PROTONS; SENSORS

Citation Formats

Rieker, G. B., Poehlmann, F. R., and Cappelli, M. A. A Thomson-type mass and energy spectrometer for characterizing ion energy distributions in a coaxial plasma gun operating in a gas-puff mode. United States: N. p., 2013. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4816028.
Rieker, G. B., Poehlmann, F. R., & Cappelli, M. A. A Thomson-type mass and energy spectrometer for characterizing ion energy distributions in a coaxial plasma gun operating in a gas-puff mode. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4816028
Rieker, G. B., Poehlmann, F. R., and Cappelli, M. A. 2013. "A Thomson-type mass and energy spectrometer for characterizing ion energy distributions in a coaxial plasma gun operating in a gas-puff mode". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4816028.
@article{osti_22227978,
title = {A Thomson-type mass and energy spectrometer for characterizing ion energy distributions in a coaxial plasma gun operating in a gas-puff mode},
author = {Rieker, G. B. and Poehlmann, F. R. and Cappelli, M. A.},
abstractNote = {Measurements of ion energy distribution are performed in the accelerated plasma of a coaxial electromagnetic plasma gun operating in a gas-puff mode at relatively low discharge energy (900 J) and discharge potential (4 kV). The measurements are made using a Thomson-type mass and energy spectrometer with a gated microchannel plate and phosphor screen as the ion sensor. The parabolic ion trajectories are captured from the sensor screen with an intensified charge-coupled detector camera. The spectrometer was designed and calibrated using the Geant4 toolkit, accounting for the effects on the ion trajectories of spatial non-uniformities in the spectrometer magnetic and electric fields. Results for hydrogen gas puffs indicate the existence of a class of accelerated protons with energies well above the coaxial discharge potential (up to 24 keV). The Thomson analyzer confirms the presence of impurities of copper and iron, also of relatively high energies, which are likely erosion or sputter products from plasma-electrode interactions.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4816028},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22227978}, journal = {Physics of Plasmas},
issn = {1070-664X},
number = 7,
volume = 20,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013},
month = {Mon Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013}
}