Accession Number:

ADA188835

Title:

Electron Temperature Measurements in an Argon/Cesium Plasma Diode.

Descriptive Note:

Master's thesis,

Corporate Author:

AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

Personal Author(s):

• Ward, Michael J.

Report Date:

1987-12-01

Pagination or Media Count:

80.0

Abstract:

Line intensity measurements in an argoncesium plasma diode were made at various locations within the discharge, yielding a spatially resolved electron temperature distribution. This device operated at 0.9 Torr argon, 0.04 Torr cesium, and at a current density of 1.05 mAsq. cm. Observations of the spectral line intensities of the 6P-nS and 6P-nD transitions of cesium yielded an average electron temperature of 8200 K throughout most of the discharge region. In contrast, the argon line emission data yields an average electron temperature of 13500 K. The difference between these two measured electron temperatures suggests that the electron energy distribution function is non-Maxwellian under the measured plasma conditions.

Descriptors:

• *ARGON
• *CESIUM
• *CESIUM ELECTRON TUBES
• *ELECTRONS
• *PLASMAS(PHYSICS)
• CURRENT DENSITY
• DISTRIBUTION
• DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
• ELECTRON ENERGY
• INTENSITY
• MEASUREMENT
• SPECTRAL LINES
• TEMPERATURE
• THESES

Subject Categories:

• Plasma Physics and Magnetohydrodynamics
• Electrical and Electronic Equipment
• Atomic and Molecular Physics and Spectroscopy

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE