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Title: Computational studies for plasma filamentation by magnetic field in atmospheric microwave discharge

Abstract

Plasma filamentation is induced by an external magnetic field in an atmospheric discharge using intense microwaves. A discrete structure is obtained at low ambient pressure if a strong magnetic field of more than 1 T is applied, due to the suppression of electron diffusion, whereas a diffusive pattern is generated with no external field. Applying a magnetic field can slow the discharge front propagation due to magnetic confinement of the electron transport. If the resonance conditions are satisfied for electron cyclotron resonance and its higher harmonics, the propagation speed increases because the heated electrons easily ionize neutral particles. The streamer velocity and the pattern of the microwave plasma are positively controlled by adjusting two parameters—the electron diffusion coefficient and the ionization frequency—through the resonance process and magnetic confinement, and hot, dense filamentary plasma can be concentrated in a compact volume to reduce energy loss in a plasma device like a microwave rocket.

Authors:
;  [1]
  1. Department of Aerospace Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8579 (Japan)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22402434
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Applied Physics Letters
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 105; Journal Issue: 22; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0003-6951
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; ELECTRON CYCLOTRON-RESONANCE; ENERGY LOSSES; HIGH-FREQUENCY DISCHARGES; MAGNETIC CONFINEMENT; MAGNETIC FIELDS; PLASMA

Citation Formats

Takahashi, Masayuki, and Ohnishi, Naofumi. Computational studies for plasma filamentation by magnetic field in atmospheric microwave discharge. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4903232.
Takahashi, Masayuki, & Ohnishi, Naofumi. Computational studies for plasma filamentation by magnetic field in atmospheric microwave discharge. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4903232
Takahashi, Masayuki, and Ohnishi, Naofumi. 2014. "Computational studies for plasma filamentation by magnetic field in atmospheric microwave discharge". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4903232.
@article{osti_22402434,
title = {Computational studies for plasma filamentation by magnetic field in atmospheric microwave discharge},
author = {Takahashi, Masayuki and Ohnishi, Naofumi},
abstractNote = {Plasma filamentation is induced by an external magnetic field in an atmospheric discharge using intense microwaves. A discrete structure is obtained at low ambient pressure if a strong magnetic field of more than 1 T is applied, due to the suppression of electron diffusion, whereas a diffusive pattern is generated with no external field. Applying a magnetic field can slow the discharge front propagation due to magnetic confinement of the electron transport. If the resonance conditions are satisfied for electron cyclotron resonance and its higher harmonics, the propagation speed increases because the heated electrons easily ionize neutral particles. The streamer velocity and the pattern of the microwave plasma are positively controlled by adjusting two parameters—the electron diffusion coefficient and the ionization frequency—through the resonance process and magnetic confinement, and hot, dense filamentary plasma can be concentrated in a compact volume to reduce energy loss in a plasma device like a microwave rocket.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4903232},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22402434}, journal = {Applied Physics Letters},
issn = {0003-6951},
number = 22,
volume = 105,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2014},
month = {Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2014}
}