Electron current extraction from a permanent magnet waveguide plasma cathode

Weatherford, B R; Foster, J E; Kamhawi, H

doi:10.1063/1.3642662

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Electron current extraction from a permanent magnet waveguide plasma cathode

Weatherford, B R·Foster, J E·Kamhawi, H

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Abstract

An electron cyclotron resonance plasma produced in a cylindrical waveguide with external permanent magnets was investigated as a possible plasma cathode electron source. The configuration is desirable in that it eliminates the need for a physical antenna inserted into the plasma, the erosion of which limits operating lifetime. Plasma bulk density was found to be overdense in the source. Extraction currents over 4 A were achieved with the device. Measurements of extracted electron currents were similar to calculated currents, which were estimated using Langmuir probe measurements at the plasma cathode orifice and along the length of the external plume. The influence of facility effects and trace ionization in the anode-cathode gap are also discussed.

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70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY ANTENNAS BEAM CURRENTS CATHODES CYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION ELECTRON CYCLOTRON-RESONANCE ELECTRON SOURCES IONIZATION LANGMUIR PROBE PERMANENT MAGNETS PLASMA PLASMA DENSITY PLUMES WAVEGUIDES

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Weatherford, B R, Foster, J E, Kamhawi, H. 2011-09-15. Electron current extraction from a permanent magnet waveguide plasma cathode. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3642662

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