Ion acoustic wave characterization in a moving plasma to find bulk flow velocity
- Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
The bulk flow velocity is an important parameter in characterizing moving plasmas, such as electric propulsion plasma plumes. In electric propulsion engines, as with all thrust producing devices, the thrust is directly related to the flow velocity. Presently, flow velocity is characterized using one of several diagnostic techniques: retarding potential analyzer (RPA), laser induced fluorescence (LIF), quadruple probe, or crossed electrostatic probes. Each of these require a detailed model describing the interaction of the diagnostic with the plasma and/or the plasma itself. The bulk flow velocity can be found directly through interpretation of the propagating characteristics of an ion acoustic wave. This method of measuring flow velocity relies only on the knowledge of the propagation of ion acoustic waves in a plasma, and not on a model of the probe-plasma interaction. A simple electrostatic probe is used where the probe diameter is much smaller than a Debye length. Here, the authors present flow velocity results of a stationary plasma thruster using this technique and compare them with measurements using an RPA.
- OSTI ID:
- 435485
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960634-; TRN: IM9710%%143
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 1996 IEEE international conference on plasma science, Boston, MA (United States), 3-5 Jun 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of IEEE conference record -- Abstracts: 1996 IEEE international conference on plasma science; PB: 324 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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