Title :
Interaction of a spherical high voltage probe with the space environment: electron trapping, current drain and collective process
Author :
Palmadesso, P.J.
Author_Institution :
US Naval Res. Lab., Washington, DC, USA
Abstract :
The effects of electron trapping and plasma turbulence on the current-voltage relationship for a positively charged high-voltage spherical probe in a magnetized plasma are studied. The results of a study conducted prior to the launch of SPEAR I (Space Power Experiment Aboard Rockets) are summarized and analyzed. A primary goal of the SPEAR I experiment was to obtain quantitative measures of the effects of an ambient magnetic field on electron collection by a high-voltage spherical probe. Analysis indicates that the structure of the sheath and the I-V relation for a high-voltage probe configured as in the originally planned SPEAR I experiment (with a working plasma contactor) would be substantially influenced by the combined action of trapped electrons and wave-particle scattering processes
Keywords :
ionospheric measuring apparatus; plasma probes; plasma sheaths; plasma turbulence; SPEAR I; Space Power Experiment Aboard Rockets; collective process; current drain; current-voltage relationship; electron trapping; ionosphere; magnetic field; magnetized plasma; plasma sheath; plasma turbulence; positively charged probe; space environment; spherical high voltage probe; wave-particle scattering processes; Electron traps; Magnetic analysis; Magnetic field measurement; Plasma measurements; Plasma sheaths; Plasma waves; Probes; Rockets; Scattering; Voltage;
Conference_Titel :
Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, 1989. IECEC-89., Proceedings of the 24th Intersociety
Conference_Location :
Washington, DC
DOI :
10.1109/IECEC.1989.74499
