A New Inductively Driven Plasma Generator (IPG6)—Setup and Initial Experiments

Author

Dropmann, M. ; Herdrich, Georg ; Laufer, Rafael ; Puckert, D. ; Fulge, H. ; Fasoulas, S. ; Schmoke, J. ; Cook, Matthew ; Hyde, Truell W.

Author_Institution

Center for Astrophys., Space Phys. & Eng. Res., Baylor Univ., Waco, TX, USA

Volume

41

Issue

4

fYear

2013

fDate

Apr-13

Firstpage

804

Lastpage

810

Abstract

As part of the partnership between the Center for Astrophysics, Space Physics and Engineering Research (CASPER) at Baylor University and the Institute of Space Systems (IRS) at the University of Stuttgart, a new design for a modular inductively driven plasma generator (IPG) is being developed and tested within CASPER and the IRS. The current IPG design is built on a well-established heritage of modular IPGs designed and operated at IRS. This latest IPG source enables the electrodeless generation of high-enthalpy plasmas and will provide CASPER researchers with the ability to operate with various gases at plasma powers of approximately 15 kW. It will also provide minimized field losses and operation over a wide scope of parameters not possible using existing designs requiring flow-controlled stabilization.

Keywords

enthalpy; plasma devices; plasma diagnostics; plasma heating; plasma sources; plasma thermodynamics; Baylor; Baylor University; Center for Astrophysics; Engineering Research; IPG6-B; IPG6-S; Institute of Space System; Space Physics; University of Stuttgart; air plasma; electrodeless generation; flow-controlled stabilization; high-enthalpy plasmas; inductively driven plasma generator; plasma heating; plasma power; plasma source; Cavity resonators; Coils; Cooling; Electron tubes; Generators; Heating; Plasmas; Inductively coupled plasma source; man-made plasma; space plasma environment;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TPS.2012.2237524

Filename

6422404