RF wave observations in beam-plasma discharge. Final Report

Technical Report · Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5654416

Bernstein, W

The Beam Plasma Discharge (BPD) was produced in the large vacuum chamber at Johnson Space Center (20 x 30 m) using an energetic electron beam of moderately high perveance. A more complete expression of the threshold current I sub c taking into account the pitch angle injection dependence is given. Ambient plasma density inferred from wave measurements under various beam conditions are reported. Maximum frequency of the excited RF band behaves differently than the frequency of the peak amplitude. The latter shows signs of parabolic saturation consistent with the light data. Beam plasma state (pre-BPD or BPD) does not affect the pitch angle dependence. Unexpected strong modulation of the RF spectrum at half odd integer of the electron cyclotron frequency (n + 1/2)f sub ce is reported (5 n 10). Another new feature, the presence of wave emission around 3/2 f sub ce for I sub b is approximate I sub c is reported.

• Research Organization: Rice Univ., Houston, TX (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5654416
• Report Number(s): N-86-20141; NASA/CR-176574; TRN: 86-021742
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
PLASMA DENSITY
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
BACKSCATTERING
ELECTRON BEAMS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
PLASMA JETS
TEST FACILITIES
BEAMS
DATA
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
INFORMATION
LEPTON BEAMS
NUMERICAL DATA
PARTICLE BEAMS
RADIATIONS
SCATTERING
700104* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Plasma Kinetics-Experimental- (-1987)