A new linear plasma device for the study of plasma waves in the electron magnetohydrodynamics regime

Pramana: Journal of physics

S MUKHERJEE^1,3¹  GARIMA JOSHI^1,2²  G RAVI^1,3³ 

[1] Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400 094, India^3;Institute for Plasma Research, Bhat, Gandhinagar 382 428, India^1;Nirma University, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway, Chandlodia, Gota, Ahmedabad 382 481, India^2

关键词: Plasma device;    plasma characterisation;    electron magnetohydrodynamics;    whistler wave;    plasma source;    magnetic coil;   

DOI  :  

学科分类：物理（综合）

来源: Indian Academy of Sciences

【 摘 要 】

A new, user-friendly, linear plasma device has been developed in our laboratory where a quiescent ($\Delta n/n \approx 1%$), low temperature (1–10 eV), pulsed (3–10 ms) plasma can be produced over a large uniform region of 30–40 cm diameter and 40 cm length. Salient features of the device include the flexibility of tuning the plasma density in the range of $10^{10}$ to $10^{12} \rm{cm}^{−3}$ and capability of scanning the plasma and field parameters in two dimensions with a precision of < 1 mm. The plasma is produced by a multifilamentary cathode and external magnetic field by Helmholtz coils, both designed and constructed in-house. The plasma parameters can be measured by Langmuir probes and electromagnetic field parameters by miniature magnetic probes and Rogowski coils. The plasma produced is uniform and essentially unbounded for performing experiments on waves and turbulence. The whole device can be operated single-handedly by undergraduate or graduate students. The device can be opened, serviced, new antennas/probes installed and ready for operation in a matter of hours. Some results on the excitation of electromagnetic structures in the context of electron magnetohydrodynamics (EMHD) are also presented to demonstrate the suitability of the device for carrying out such experiments.

【 授权许可】

CC BY