PLASMA ACCELERATION BY A 2.4 KMC GRADIENT ELECTRIC FIELD
BS>The acceleration of plasma by r-f gradient fields was previously demonstrated. Plasma velocities up to 2 x 10/sup 6/ cm/sec for Hg ions were measured for applied r-f fields less than 200 v/cm at 140 and 350 Mc and found to be in agreement with a theory developed on the basis of energy considerations. The applied frequency was raised to 2.4 kMc. Greater resolution of the velocity measurement was achieved by pulsing the accelerating r-f field. The r-f pulse time delay can be adjusted relative to the initiation of the plasma pulse to select a plasma volume element of critical density and thus accelerate to optimum velocity. The ion velocity was found to depend approximately linearly on the field strength. The plasma density in the 2.4 kMc experiments was higher than that of the previous experiments by a factor of about 100, The highest bulk ion velocity measured at 700 v/cm was 8 x 10/sup 5/ cm/sec. The data, obtained at applied frequencies one order of magnitude higher than those previously employed and taken over a wider field strength range, were in good agreement with the theory when the functional dependence of the collision frequency upon plasma density and r-f field strength was considered. In the range of the experiments, the increase in collision frequency with increasing applied frequency reduced the gain in thrust expected from the use of a more dense plasma at a higher applied frequency. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Radio Corp. of America. Astro-Electronics Div., Princeton, N.J.; Radio Corp. of America. RCA Labs., Princeton, N.J.
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-000957
- OSTI ID:
- 4775753
- Report Number(s):
- NP-12153; AED-1609
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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RESEARCH ON PLASMA ACCELERATION BY ELECTRIC FIELD GRADIENT. Semi-annual Technical Report for June 30, 1959-December 31, 1959
RESEARCH ON PLASMA ACCELERATION BY ELECTRIC FIELD GRADIENT. Semi-annual Technical Report for June 30, 1959-December 31, 1959