Abstract

Inertial electrostatic confinement (IEC) is investigated in terms of direct-current discharge in a cylindrical configuration using nitrogen gas in the pressure range between 0.028 and 0.09 Torr. Discharge characteristics are determined for different anode transparencies of 84%, 92%, and 96% corresponding to 24, 12, and 6 anode rods, respectively. I-V characteristic curves indicate that the electric discharge is in the abnormal glow discharge region. The discharge voltage has the highest values for the low anode transparency for the same value of the discharge current. A double electric probe has been used to measure electron temperature and ion density. The low anode transparency (24 anode rods) enhances field uniformity and aligns the motion of electrons into a chord so that better electrostatic confinement is achieved. This will raise the ion density and lead to thermalization of the plasma, which reduces the electron temperature. The behavior of the electron temperature and the ion density was studied as a function of the gas pressure at the center and near the edge. The variation of the density and temperature in both positions can confirm the plasma confinement. In the low-pressure regime, the confinement process is reinforced. Because of the longer mean free path, electrons cause ionization at the center, which raises the ion density to about 1.44 × 10¹⁵ m⁻³ and the electron temperature to about 2.9 eV.

摘要

根据在0.028到0.09 Torr压力范围内的氮气在圆柱形配置中的直流放电，研究了惯性静电限制（IEC）。确定了分别对应于24、12和6个阳极棒的84％，92％和96％的不同阳极透明度的放电特性。IV特性曲线表明放电在异常辉光放电区域中。对于相同的放电电流值，对于较低的阳极透明度，放电电压具有最高的值。双电探针已用于测量电子温度和离子密度。低阳极透明度（24根阳极棒）增强了电场均匀性，并使电子的运动对准弦，从而实现了更好的静电限制。这将提高离子密度并导致等离子体热化，从而降低电子温度。研究了电子温度和离子密度随中心和边缘附近气压变化的行为。两个位置的密度和温度的变化可以确认等离子体的限制。在低压状态下，限制过程得到加强。由于更长的平均自由程，电子在中心引起电离，从而将离子密度提高到约1.44×10 两个位置的密度和温度的变化可以确认等离子体的限制。在低压状态下，限制过程得到加强。由于更长的平均自由程，电子在中心引起电离，从而将离子密度提高到约1.44×10 两个位置的密度和温度的变化可以确认等离子体的限制。在低压状态下，限制过程得到加强。由于更长的平均自由程，电子在中心引起电离，从而将离子密度提高到约1.44×10¹⁵  m ^-3，电子温度达到约2.9 eV。