Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T08:41:16.019Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Some dynamical properties of very strong double layers in a triple plasma device

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2009

T. Carpenter
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, U.S.A.
S. Torvén
Affiliation:
Department of Plasma Physics, Royal Inst. of Technology, S-10044, Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract

We present experimental results on three dynamic properties of very strong double layers observed in a triple plasma device. First, it is observed that when an inductance of sufficient size is inserted in series with the external bias supply used to produce the double layer, disruptions in the plasma current occur accompanied by disruptions in the double layer potential. Second, it is observed that with all external reactances reduced as much as possible, a sort of jitter-motion occurs in the position of the double layer around its equilibrium position. Third, when the external bias supply is pulsed, the initial potential distribution is observed to have an essentially uniform slope, as in the case of a vacuum capacitor. The disruption phenomenon may be explained in terms of the behavior of the potential structure as a function of the bias voltage and this explanation is discussed along with the experimental evidence for its validity. A comparable understanding of the other two phenomena has not been achieved, but in both cases there are qualitative differences between the behavior reported here and what has been observed in Q-machines and these differences are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Carpenter, R. T. & Torvén, S. 1984a Proc. Int. Conf. on Plas. Phys.,Lausanne, P14–3.Google Scholar
Carpenter, R. T., Torvén, S. & Lindberg, L. 1984b Proc. Second Symp. on Double Layers,Innsbruck,159.Google Scholar
Carpenter, R. T. & Torvén, S. 1986 to be published.Google Scholar
Hershkowitz, Noah, 1985 Space Sci. Revs., 41, 351.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Iizuki, , Satoru, , Michelsen, , Poul, , Rasmussen, , Jens, Juul, Schrittwieser, , Roman, , Hatakeyama, , Rikizo, , Saeki, , Koichi, & Sato, Noriyoshi 1983. RISO National Laboratory Report RISO-M-2414.Google Scholar
Sato, N., Hatakeyama, R.Iizuka, S., Mieno, T., Saeki, K., Rasmussen, J.Juul, & Michelsen, P. 1981. Phys. Rev. Lett. 46, 1330.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Noriyoshi, , Sato, , Hatakeyama, , Rikizo, , Iizuka, , Satoru, , Mieno, , Tetsu, , Saeki, , Koichi, , Rasmussen, , Jens, Juul, Michelsen, , Poul, & Schrittwieser, Roman 1983 J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 52, 875.Google Scholar
Torvén, S. 1982. J. Phys. D. Appl. Phys. 15, 1943.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Torvén, S., Lindberg, L. & Carpenter, R. T. 1985. Plas. Phys. and Cont. Fusion, 27, 143.CrossRefGoogle Scholar