Lithium discharges in a microwave resonant cavity ion source

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:153902

Brooks, C B; Brake, M L ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States). Dept. of Nuclear Engineering

Lithium-Argon plasmas have been produced in a microwave resonant cavity ion source at the University of Michigan. Lithium has been introduced into the system in the solid forms of LiCl and Li{sub 2}CO{sub 3}, which is then heated by a background argon discharge allowing dissociation of the lithium. The dissociation is evidenced by the observation of strong Li-I lines in the discharge using optical emission spectroscopy. Input microwave powers of 100--250 Watts have been used and discharges have been established with background argon pressures of 5--20 mTorr. Double Langmuir probe studies have indicated ion densities 1--5 {times} 10{sup 10}/cm{sup 3} and electron temperatures of 3--3.5 eV. A comparison of discharges created with LiCl and Li{sub 2}CO{sub 3} will be made. Behavior of the discharge with varying initial amounts of Li{sub 2}CO{sub 3} and argon pressures will be shown.

• DOE Contract Number: FG02-92ER75789
• OSTI ID: 153902
• Report Number(s): CONF-950612--; ISBN 0-7803-2669-5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
CAVITY RESONATORS
DESIGN
ION SOURCES
LITHIUM CARBONATES
LITHIUM CHLORIDES
LITHIUM IONS
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PLASMA PRODUCTION