Electron depletion via cathode spot dispersion of dielectric powder into an overhead plasma

Journal Article · Fri Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2013 · Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology. A, Vacuum, Surfaces and Films

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.4817753· OSTI ID:22224102

Gillman, Eric D. ^[1]; Foster, John E. ^[2]

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1. Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, District of Columbia 20375 (United States)
2. Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences (NERS), University of Michigan, 2355 Bonisteel Blvd., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 (United States)

The effectiveness of cathode spot delivered dielectric particles for the purpose of plasma depletion is investigated. Here, cathode spot flows kinetically entrain and accelerate dielectric particles originally at rest into a background plasma. The time variation of the background plasma density is tracked using a cylindrical Langmuir probe biased approximately at electron saturation. As inferred from changes in the electron saturation current, depletion fractions of up to 95% are observed. This method could be exploited as a means of communications blackout mitigation for manned and unmanned reentering spacecraft as well as any high speed vehicle enveloped by a dense plasma layer.

• OSTI ID: 22224102
• Journal Information: Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology. A, Vacuum, Surfaces and Films, Vol. 31, Issue 6; Other Information: (c) 2013 American Vacuum Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0734-2101
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
APPROXIMATIONS
CATHODES
COMMUNICATIONS
CURRENTS
CYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
DISPERSIONS
ELECTRONS
LANGMUIR PROBE
LAYERS
MITIGATION
OUTAGES
PLASMA DENSITY
SATURATION
SPACE VEHICLES