Ion acceleration in a solenoid-free plasma expanded by permanent magnets
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Iwate University, Morioka 020-8551 (Japan)
Ion acceleration is achieved in a low-pressure solenoid-free plasma expanded by permanent magnet arrays. Although a permanent magnet normally forms cusp magnetic fields which prevents plasma diffusion and double layer formation, by employing double concentric arrays of permanent magnets, a constant field area, and a diverging magnetic field can be generated near the outlet of the plasma source. In the source, a rapid potential drop with 4 cm thickness from 50 V to 20 V is generated at the diverging field area for 0.35 mTorr and a supersonic ion beam accelerated through the potential drop is observed in the diffusion chamber. The beam energy can be increased up to over 40 eV with a decrease in gas pressure.
- OSTI ID:
- 21120546
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 15, Issue 8; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2965497; (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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