PLASMA INTERACTION RESEARCH PROJECT. Final Report No. 4, Covering Period December 1, 1958-November 30, 1959

Technical Report · Tue Oct 31 04:00:00 EST 1961

OSTI ID:4073703

Gould, R W; Dow, D G

Characteristics of space-charge waves that propagate on a cylindrical plasma column at high frequencies were studied. An exact theory and detailed calculation of the properties of these modes were given in the case of zero and infinite magnetic field for the case of a cold plasma (thermal velocities neglected). The theory of the intermediate magnetic-field case was formulated, but a detailed study of the properties of the modes, which requires machine calculation, was not made. Careful meausurements on a mercury arc discharge plasma column with no magnetic field show that the phase velocity is in agreement with theory and that the attenuation is too large to be accounted for by electron collisions within the column of the plasma. This last condition is probably caused by wall collisions. A small unexplained anomaly in the phase velocity was noted near the electron cyclotron frequency. The plasma traveling wave tube was operated with a static axial magnetic field. and forward wave interaction was obtained. A theoretical and experimental study of the scattering of electromagnetic waves from a plasma column was made to explain anomalous resonances in the reflection coefficient. Careful measurements showed that the major resonance occurs below the plasma frequency and is explained adequately by the simple theories. Other resonanaces occur in the vicinity of the plasma frequency, and a tentative explanation in which thermal velocities play a significant role was advanced. (auth)

• Research Organization: California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena. Electron Tube and Microwave Lab.
• NSA Number: NSA-15-012301
• OSTI ID: 4073703
• Report Number(s): AD-239994
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CYCLOTRON FREQUENCY
CYLINDERS
ELECTRIC ARCS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
ELECTRONS
ELECTROSTATICS
FREQUENCY
GYROFREQUENCY
INTERACTIONS
LOSSES
LOW TEMPERATURE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MEASURED VALUES
MERCURY
OSCILLATIONS
PHYSICS
PLASMA
PLASMA WAVES
REFLECTION
RESONANCE
SCATTERING
TUBES
VELOCITY
VESSELS
WAVE PROPAGATION