Experiments on the injection, confinement, and ejection of electron clouds in a magnetic mirror

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.862101· OSTI ID:6667484

Eckhouse, S; Fisher, A; Rostoker, N

A cloud of (5 to 10 keV) electrons is injected into a magnetic mirror field. The magnetic field rises in 40--120 ..mu..sec to a maximum of 10 kG. Two methods of injection were tried: In the first, the injector is located at the mirror midplane and electrons are injected perpendicular to the magnetic field lines. In the second scheme, the injector is located near the mirror maximum. Up to about 10/sup 11/ electrons were trapped in both schemes with a mean kinetic energy of 0.3 MeV. Measured confinement time is limited only by the magnetic field decay time. The compressed electron cloud executes electrostatic oscillations. The frequency of the oscillation is proportional to the number of electrons trapped, and it is independent of the value of the magnetic field and the initial electron energy. The electron cloud was ejected along the mirror axis and properties of the ejected electron cloud were measured by x-ray pulses from bremstrahlung of electrons on the vacuum system wall and by collecting electrons on a Faraday cup.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, University of California, Irvine, California 92717
• OSTI ID: 6667484
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 21:10; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700101* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Confinement
Heating
& Production
BEAM INJECTION
CONFINEMENT TIME
ELECTRON BEAM INJECTION
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY SPECTRA
FERMIONS
LEPTONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC MIRRORS
OPEN PLASMA DEVICES
OSCILLATIONS
SPECTRA
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TRAPPED ELECTRONS