QUARTERLY STATUS REPORT OF THE LASL PLASMA THERMOCOUPLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR PERIOD ENDING MARCH 20, 1960
By improvement in the temperature control of the oil bath, it was found possible to operate the plasma thermocouple cells at temperatures down to 22 deg C, corresponding to a cesium vapor pressure of 10/sup -6/ mm Hg where collisions of electrons and ions with neutral atoms are negligible. As a result it was possible to measure ion currents, as well as short circuit currents and open circuit voltages, for a pressure range of 10/sup -6/ to 1 mm Hg. In order to obtain some understanding of the nature of plasma cell oscillations, observations were made of voltage and current wave forms generated by a cell with a Ta emitter. Oscillations were obtained for cesium pressures varying from 3 x 10/sup -6/ to 10/ sup -2/ mm Hg and for a wide range of emitter temperature. The effect on the oscillations of varying the operating voltage of the cell and of the emitter- collecter separation distance was observed. The possibility of designing a plasma thermocouple reactor to operate as a power supply in space vehicles was given consideration. In-pile testing, plasma cell design, structural changes in fuel elements, spectroscope examination of a plasma cell, cesium vapor equilibrium, thermionic emission studies and data reduction, fabrication techniques, and properties of materials are summarized. (For preceding period see LAMS-2396.) (W.D.M.)
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos Scientific Lab., N. Mex.
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- NSA Number:
- NSA-14-016448
- OSTI ID:
- 4164263
- Report Number(s):
- LAMS-2423
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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