Axial force imparted by a current-free magnetically expanding plasma

The axial force imparted from a magnetically expanding, current-free, radiofrequency plasma is directly measured. For an argon gas flow rate of 25 sccm and an effective rf input power of ∼ 800 W , a maximum force of ∼ 6 mN is obtained; ∼ 3 mN of which is transmitted via the expanding magnetic field....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physics of plasmas 2012-08, Vol.19 (8)
Main Authors: Takahashi, Kazunori, Lafleur, Trevor, Charles, Christine, Alexander, Peter, Boswell, Rod W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ARGON
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRONS
GAS FLOW
LORENTZ FORCE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NOZZLES
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PLASMA DIAMAGNETISM
PLASMA EXPANSION
PLASMA PRESSURE
PRESSURE GRADIENTS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
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Summary:The axial force imparted from a magnetically expanding, current-free, radiofrequency plasma is directly measured. For an argon gas flow rate of 25 sccm and an effective rf input power of ∼ 800 W , a maximum force of ∼ 6 mN is obtained; ∼ 3 mN of which is transmitted via the expanding magnetic field. The measured forces are reasonably compared with a simple fluid model associated with the measured electron pressure. The model suggests that the total force is the sum of an electron pressure inside the source and a Lorentz force due to the electron diamagnetic drift current and the applied radial magnetic field. It is shown that the Lorentz force is greatest near the magnetic nozzle surface where the radial pressure gradient is largest.
ISSN:1070-664X
1089-7674
DOI:10.1063/1.4747701