DocumentCode :
1025955
Title :
A two-component model for the electron distribution function in a high-current pseudospark or back-lighted thyratron
Author :
Bauer, Hannes R. ; Kirkman, George ; Gundersen, Martin A.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. Eng., Univ. of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Volume :
18
Issue :
2
fYear :
1990
fDate :
4/1/1990 12:00:00 AM
Firstpage :
237
Lastpage :
246
Abstract :
Temperature, energy, and densities of two electron distribution function components, including an isotropic bulk part and an anisotropic beam, are analyzed for a hydrogen pseudospark and/or back-lighted thyratron switch plasma with a peak electron density of 1-3×1015 cm-3 and peak current density of ≈104 A/cm2. Estimates of a very small cathode-fall width during the conduction phase and high electric field strengths lead to the injection of an electron beam with energies ⩾100 eV and density of 1013-1014 cm-3 into a Maxwellian bulk plasma. Collisional and radiative processes of monoenergetic beam electrons, bulk plasma electrons and ions, and atomic hydrogen are modeled by a set of rate equations, and line intensity ratios are compared with measurements. Under these high-current conditions, for an initial density nH2=1016 cm-3 and electron temperature of 0.8-1 eV, the estimated beam density is ≈1013 -1014 cm-3. These results suggest the possibility of producing in a simple way a very high-density electron beam
Keywords :
plasma switches; plasma theory; sparks; thyratrons; H; Maxwellian bulk plasma; anisotropic beam; back-lighted thyratron; back-lighted thyratron switch; cathode-fall width; densities; electric field strengths; electron beam; electron distribution function; energy; high-current pseudospark; isotropic bulk part; monoenergetic beam electrons; peak electron density; radiative processes; two-component model; Atomic measurements; Distribution functions; Electron beams; Hydrogen; Particle beams; Plasma density; Plasma measurements; Plasma temperature; Switches; Temperature distribution;
fLanguage :
English
Journal_Title :
Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on
Publisher :
ieee
ISSN :
0093-3813
Type :
jour
DOI :
10.1109/27.131027
Filename :
131027
Link To Document :
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