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A laboratory investigation of potential double layers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2009

Philip Leung
Affiliation:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California

Abstract

In a triple plasma device, the injection of electron current from the source chamber to the target chamber causes the formation of a potential double layer. At a low current density, the space charge of the injected current produces a virtual cathode-type potential double layer. This double layer is stable and various wave instabilities are observed to associate with this double layer. As the current density is increased, the double layer becomes unstable and a moving double layer results. As the current density is increased further, the enhanced ionization causes the neutralization of the space charge of the electron beam and the ‘beam plasma discharge’ is ignited.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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