Space Charge Waves in Cylindrical Plasma Columns

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1959 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1735056· OSTI ID:4233799

Trivelpiece, A. W.; Gould, R. W.

When a plasma is of finite transverse cross section, space-charge waves may propagate even in the absence of a drift motion or thermal velocities of the plasma. Some of the properties of these space charge waves have been investigated by regarding the plasma as a dielectric and solving the resulting field equations. The effect of a steady axial magnetic field is considered, but motion of heavy ions and electron temperature effects are neglected. Waves are found to exist at frequencies low compared with the plasma frequency as well as waves with oppositely directed phase and group velocities (backward waves). Mary of the features of these waves have been verified experimentally by measuring phase velocity and attenuation of waves along the positive column of a low pressure mercury arc in an axial magnetic field. Measurement of electron density have been made using these waves and the results are compared with those obtained by other methods. An interesting feature of these measurements, of value in plasma diagnostics, is that they can be made with frequencies which are small compared with the plasma frequency.

• Research Organization: California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-14-002094
• OSTI ID: 4233799
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 30; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
• Publisher: American Institute of Physics (AIP)
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ABSORPTION
CYLINDERS
DENSITY
DIELECTRICS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ELECTRIC ARCS
ELECTRIC CHARGES
ELECTRON BEAMS
ELECTRONS
FREQUENCY
IONS
LOSSES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MEASURED VALUES
MERCURY
MOTION
OSCILLATIONS
PHYSICS
PLASMA
SPACE CHARGE
VELOCITY
WAVE PROPAGATION