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Energy distribution functions of kilovolt ions in a modified penning discharge
| Content Provider | NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) |
|---|---|
| Author | Roth, J. R. |
| Copyright Year | 1972 |
| Description | The distribution function of ion energy parallel to the magnetic field of a Penning discharge was measured with a retarding potential energy analyzer. Simultaneous measurements of the ion energy distribution function perpendicular to the magnetic field were made with a charge-exchange neutral detector. The ion energy distribution functions are approximately Maxwellian, and their kinetic temperatures are equal within experimental error. This suggests that turbulent processes previously observed Maxwellianize the velocity distribution along a radius in velocity space, and result in an isotropic energy distribution. The kinetic temperatures are on the order of kilovolts, and the tails of the ion energy distribution functions are Maxwellian up to a factor of 7 e-folds in energy. When the distributions depart from Maxwellian, they are enhanced above the Maxwellian tail. Above densities of about 10 to the 10th power particles/cc, this enhancement appears to be the result of a second, higher temperature Maxwellian distribution. At these high particle energies, only the ions perpendicular to the magnetic field lines were investigated. |
| File Size | 832257 |
| Page Count | 22 |
| File Format | |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_19730001929 |
| Archival Resource Key | ark:/13960/t6xw96142 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher Date | 1972-01-01 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Maxwell-boltzmann Density Function Penning Discharge Plasma Diagnostics Magnetic Fields Ion Temperature Ntrs Nasa Technical Reports Server (ntrs) Nasa Technical Reports Server Aerodynamics Aircraft Aerospace Engineering Aerospace Aeronautic Space Science |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
