DIFFUSED PLASMA BOUNDARIES AND SOME ASPECTS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE SYNTHESIS. Thesis

Thesis/Dissertation · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1963

OSTI ID:4123266

Farhat, N H

The phenomenon of interaction of electromagnetic (EM) waves and plasma was used as a basis for a study of the logical conjugate to the plasma diagnostic problem. That is, information about some of the properties of the interacting wave was obtained through measurement of the plasma parameters affected most by the wave. The electron distribution is considered in a special class of plasma boundaries (space charge sheath) that may form in dilute plasmas where free electron diffusion occurs. The electron concentration is shown to increase from a uniform value in the bulk plasma to approximately twice this value at the wall. It is further shown that the presence of such a boundary (sheath) does not cause any appreciable reflection in an incident EM wave. The effect of the EM wave on the plasma parameters is shown to be conveyed primarily through the action of the field on the electrons in the plasma. This action is manifested by an increase in the electron temperature, which is derived from an electron energy balance equation. This is shown to be dependent on the electric field component of the interacting microwave, its frequency, the nature of the gas, and its pressure. The theory of operation of a glow discharge microwave energy detector is also presented. It is shown that the functioning of the detector is closely determined by the dependence of the diffusion coefficient in the Faraday region of the discharge on electron temperature. Experimental verifications show close agreement between theory and practice, also demonstrate the excellent potentialities of the device in practical applications, particularly in microwave power density measurement. (Dissertation Abstr., 24: No. 4, Oct. 1963)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-18-004673
• OSTI ID: 4123266
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

DIFFUSION
ELECTRIC CHARGES
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
ELECTRONS
GLOW DISCHARGES
INTERACTIONS
MEASURED VALUES
MICROWAVES
PHYSICS
PLASMA
SURFACES
TEMPERATURE