Plasma characterization in a diode with a carbon-fiber cathode

Journal Article · Mon Aug 25 00:00:00 EDT 2008 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2976136· OSTI ID:21124091

Vekselman, V; Gleizer, J; Yarmolich, D; Felsteiner, J; Krasik, Ya ^[1]; Liu, L ^[2]; Bernshtam, V ^[3]

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1. Department of Physics, Technion, Haifa 32000 (Israel)
2. College of Photoelectric Science and Engineering, National University of Defense Technology, ChangSha 410073 (China)
3. Department of Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 61000 (Israel)

Results of optical and spectroscopic studies of the plasma formation at the surface of two types of carbon-fiber cathodes in a diode powered by an {approx}200 kV accelerating pulse are presented. It was found that during the pulse, generation of the plasma occurs in a form of several millimeter size plasma spots. In the vicinity of the cathode surface the average plasma density and temperature were found to be {approx}3x10{sup 14} cm{sup -3} and {approx}5 eV, respectively, for an electron current density of {approx}22 A/cm{sup 2}. The plasma expansion velocity toward the anode was found to be {approx}1.5x10{sup 6} cm/s during the first 150 ns of the accelerating pulse duration.

• OSTI ID: 21124091
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 93, Issue 8; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2976136; (c) 2008 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
ANODES
CARBON FIBERS
CATHODES
CURRENT DENSITY
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
ELECTRONS
EV RANGE 01-10
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PLASMA EXPANSION
PULSES
THERMIONIC DIODES