ISSN:
1434-601X
Quelle:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Thema:
Physik
Notizen:
Abstract In pinch discharges a second plasma regime called halo1,2 outside the central plasma column1-4 has been observed. This surrounding plasma was investigated in the experiments with the 5.4 m long compression coil in the ISARI linear theta pinch because there it appears highly pronounced. The development of the discharge was observed side-on (stereoscopic) with image converters and a streak camera. It appears possible to resolve the space-time behaviour of the plasma, especially in the dynamic phase of the discharge where the halo shows a filament like structure, by using high-speed color reversal film (streak camera). Furthermore, the smear pictures show that after 6–8 μsec the halo region is frozen into the external magnetic field, that is from this time the halo is characterized by a high electrical conductivity. The boundary layer of the halo follows a magnetic flux tube. The parameters of the halo, such as electron densityn e (〈 1015 cm−3), atomic temperatureT a , and ion temperatureT i (〈 15 eV), were determined spectroscopically as a function of time and location from the broadening of the deuterium Balmer lines. The absolutely measured line intensities do not allow direct calculation of the electron temperature since the excited levels of the investigated Balmer lines are mainly populated from the ground level. By numerical solution of a system of rate equations describing the change of the levels a region for the electron temperature 5〈T e 〈10eV can be specified. Different mechanisms, such as photoionization, ionization by electron impact in a time varying magnetic field, ionizing collisions of high velocity neutral atoms with neutral gas at rest, transport processes in the plasma across the magnetic field, instabilities which may cause the development of the halo, are discussed by means of the experimental results. It is concluded that the halo region is caused by flute instabilities.
Materialart:
Digitale Medien
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01394570
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