Spectroscopic temperature measurements of air breakdown plasma using a 110 GHz megawatt gyrotron beam
- Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (United States)
Temperature measurements are presented of a non-equilibrium air breakdown plasma using optical emission spectroscopy. A plasma is created with a focused 110 GHz 3 {mu}s pulse gyrotron beam in air that produces power fluxes exceeding 1 MW/cm{sup 2}. Rotational and vibrational temperatures are spectroscopically measured over a pressure range of 1-100 Torr as the gyrotron power is varied above threshold. The temperature dependence on microwave field as well as pressure is examined. Rotational temperature measurements of the plasma reveal gas temperatures in the range of 300-500 K and vibrational temperatures in the range of 4200-6200 K. The vibrational and rotational temperatures increase slowly with increasing applied microwave field over the range of microwave fields investigated.
- OSTI ID:
- 22072671
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 19; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Millimeter wave scattering and diffraction in 110 GHz air breakdown plasma
Pressure dependence of plasma structure in microwave gas breakdown at 110 GHz
Plasma structures observed in gas breakdown using a 1.5 MW, 110 GHz pulsed gyrotron
Journal Article
·
Mon Apr 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013
· Physics of Plasmas
·
OSTI ID:22130477
Pressure dependence of plasma structure in microwave gas breakdown at 110 GHz
Journal Article
·
Mon Jul 05 00:00:00 EDT 2010
· Applied Physics Letters
·
OSTI ID:21367003
Plasma structures observed in gas breakdown using a 1.5 MW, 110 GHz pulsed gyrotron
Journal Article
·
Fri May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2009
· Physics of Plasmas
·
OSTI ID:21277139