A MICROWAVE METHOD FOR THE STUDY OF STEADY AND FLUCTUATING PLASMA NUMBER DENSITIES

Journal Article · Thu Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1963 · Journal of Applied Physics (U.S.)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1702712· OSTI ID:4658078

Crawford, F W; Kino, G S; Self, S A; Spalter, J

A method for the measurement of d-c and a-c components of number density in cylindrical gas-discharge columns was studied. The technique is based on a dipole resonance, occurring below the electron plasma frequency. It is excited by an r-f signal transmitted along a stripline enclosing the plasma column. By working on the side of the resonance curve, a fluctuating output signal is obtained corresponding to the density fluctuations. The simple theory of the resonance was extended to take account of stripline size, of the glass surrounding the column, and of a radial variation in number derisity. The method is considerably more sensitive than cavity perturbation techniques, and the results compare reasonably well with number density measurements made by other methods. (auth)

• Research Organization: Stanford Univ., Calif.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-17-038389
• OSTI ID: 4658078
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics (U.S.), Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics (U.S.) Vol. Vol: 34; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CYLINDERS
DENSITY
DIPOLES
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRONS
EXCITATION
FREQUENCY
GASES
GLASS
MEASURED VALUES
MICROWAVES
PHYSICS
PLASMA
RADIO WAVES
RESONANCE
SIGNALS
TUBES
VARIATIONS