Microwave absorption studies near the plasma frequency
To study the rate of electromagnetic wave absorption by a plasma, two high-Q microwave resonators are used that surround an alkali plasma column. The resonators are operated in the TM/sub 010/ mode (rf electric field parallel to static magnetic field) at resonant frequencies, ..omega../2..pi.., near 2.0 GHz. The fully ionized plasma is in thermal equilibrium, T/sub e/ = T/sub i/ = 0.2 eV, with a density that can be varied to obtain values of ..omega../sub p//..omega.. near unity. The rf absorption rate is measured by first resonantly exciting a mode with a short pulse of microwave power and then monitoring the decay of its rf field energy after the external source is switched off. After correction for loss in the copper resonator walls, the observed decay rate can be converted to an absolute rate of microwave absorption by the plasma alone or to an equivalent value of its ac electrical resistivity.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 5035318
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-78-51; CONF-780113-7; TRN: 78-008846
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 3. conference on RF plasma heating, Pasadena, CA, USA, 11 Jan 1978
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
HIGH-FREQUENCY HEATING
PLASMA
MICROWAVE RADIATION
ABSORPTION
ALKALI METALS
ENERGY LOSSES
LANGMUIR FREQUENCY
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
HEATING
METALS
PLASMA HEATING
RADIATIONS
700101* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Confinement
Heating
& Production