Oxide Coated Cathode Plasma Source of Linear Magnetized Plasma Device

Plasma source is the most important part of the laboratory plasma platform for fundamental plasma experimental research. Barium oxide coated cathode plasma source is well recognized as an effective technique due to its high electron emission current. An indirectly heated oxide coated cathode plasma source has been constructed on a linear magnetized plasma device. The electron emission current density can reach 2 A/cm 2 to 6 A/cm ² in pulsed mode within pulse length 5–20 ms. A 10 cm diameter, 2 m long plasma column with density 10 ¹⁸ m ⁻³ to 10 ¹⁹ m ³ and electron temperature T_e ≈ 3–7 eV is produced. The spatial uniformity of the emission ability is less than 4% and the discharge reproducibility is better than 97%. With a wide range of the plasma parameters, this kind of plasma source provides great flexibility for many basic plasma investigations. The detail of construction and initial characterization of oxide coated cathode are described in this paper.     

Construction of Larger Area Density-Uniform Plasma with Collisional Inductively Coupled Plasma Cells

The plasma density and electron temperature of a multi-source plasma system composed of several collisional inductively coupled plasma （ICP） cells were measured by a doubleprobe. The discharges of the ICP cells were shown to be independent of each other. Furthermore, the total plasma density at simultaneous multi-cell discharge was observed to be approximately equal to the summation of the plasma density when the cells discharge separately. Based on the linear summation phenomenon, it was shown that a larger area plasma with a uniform density and temperature profile could be constructed with multi-collisional ICP cells.     

The Electrostatic Cylindrical Sheath in a Plasma

The electrostatic sheath with a cylindrical geometry in an ion-electron plasma is investigated. Assuming a Boltzmann response to electrons and cold ions with bulk flow, it is shown that the radius of the cylindrical geometry do not affect the sheath potential significantly. We also found that the sheath potential profile is steeper in the cylindrical sheath compared to the slab sheath. The distinct feature of the cylindrical sheath is that the ion density distribution is not monotonous. The sheath region can be divided into three regions, two ascendant regions and one descendant region.     

A Physics Exploratory Experiment on Plasma Liner Formation

Momentum flux for imploding a target plasma in magnetized target fusion (MTF) may be delivered by an array of plasma guns launching plasma jets that would merge to form an imploding plasma shell (liner). In this paper, we examine what would be a worthwhile experiment to explore the dynamics of merging plasma jets to form a plasma liner as a first step in establishing an experimental database for plasma-jets-driven magnetized target fusion (PJETS-MTF). Using past experience in fusion energy research as a model, we envisage a four-phase program to advance the art of PJETS-MTF to fusion breakeven (Q 1). The experiment (PLX) described in this paper serves as Phase 1 of this four-phase program. The logic underlying the selection of the experimental parameters is presented. The experiment consists of using 12 plasma guns arranged in a circle, launching plasma jets toward the center of a vacuum chamber. The velocity of the plasma jets chosen is 200 km/s, and each jet is to carry a mass of 0.2 mg to 0.4 mg. A candidate plasma accelerator for launching these jets consists of a coaxial plasma gun of the Marshall type.     

The Gridless Plasma Ion Source （GIS） for Plasma Ion Assisted Optical Coating

High-quality optical coating is a key technology for modern optics. Ion-assisted deposition technology was used to improve the vaporized coating in 1980's. The GIS (gridless ion source), which is an advanced plasma source for producing a high-quality optical coating in large area, can produce a large area uniformity＞1000 mm(diameter), a high ion current density ～ 0.5mA/cm2, 20 eV ～ 200 eV energetic plasma ions and can activate reactive gas and film atoms. Now we have developed a GIS system. The GIS and the plasma ion-assisted deposition technology are investigated to achieve a high-quality optical coating. The GIS is a high power and high current source with a power of I kW ～ 7.5 kW, a current of 10 A ～ 70 A and an ion density of 200μA/cm2 ～ 500μA/cm2. Because of the special magnetic structure, the plasma-ion extraction efficiency has been improved to obtain a maximum ion density of 500μA/cm2 in the medium power (～ 4 kW) level. The GIS applied is of a special cathode structure, so that the GIS operation can be maintained under a rather low power and the lifetime of cathode will be extended. The GIS has been installed in the LPSX-1200 type box coating system. The coated TiO2, SiO2 films such as antireflective films with the system have the same performance reported by Leybold Co, 1992, along with a controllable refractive index and film structure.     

Electromagnetic Calculation and Plasma Leakage Rate Analysis of the Magnetically Confined Plasma Rocket

An electromagnetic calculation and the parameters of the magnet system of the magnetically confined plasma rocket were established. By using ANSYS code, it was found that the leakage rate depends on the current intensity of the magnet and the change of the magnet position.     

Esterification by the Plasma Acidic Water:Novel Application of Plasma Acid

This work explores the possibility of plasma acid as acid catalyst in organic reactions. Plasma acidic water was prepared by dielectric barrier discharge and used to catalyze esterification of n-heptanioc acid with ethanol. It is found that the plasma acidic water has a stable and better performance than sulfuric acid, meaning that it is an excellent acid catalyst. The plasma acidic water would be a promising alternative for classic mineral acid as a more environment friendly acid.     

Mixed Wastes Vitrification by Transferred Plasma

Thermal plasma technology provides a stable and long term treatment of mixed wastes through vitrification processes. In this work, a transferred plasma system was realized to vitrify mixed wastes, taking advantage of its high power density, enthalpy and chemical reactivity as well as its rapid quenching and high operation temperatures.
To characterize the plasma discharge, a temperature diagnostic is realized by means of optical emission spectroscopy （OES）. To typify the morphological structure of the wastes samples~ scan- ning electron microscopy （SEM）, and X-ray diffraction （XRD） techniques were applied before and after the plasma treatment.     

Effects of Low Energy and High Flux Helium／Hydrogen Plasma Irradiation on Tungsten as Plasma Facing Material

The High-Z material tungsten (W) has been considered as a plasma facing material in the divertor region of ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor). In ITER, the divertor is expected to operate under high particle fluxes (> 1023 m-2s-1) from the plasma as well as from intrinsic impurities with a very low energy (< 200 eV). During the past dacade, the effects of plasma irradiation on tungsten have been studied extensively as functions of the ion energy, fluence and surface temperature in the burning plasma conditions. In this paper, recent results concerning blister and bubble formations on the tungsten surface under low energy (< 100 eV) and high flux (> 1021 m-2s-1) He/H plasma irradiation are reviewed to gain a better understanding of the performance of tungsten as a plasma facing material under the burning plasma conditions.     

Inter-Calibration Between Plasma Instruments Onboard DEMETER

The in-situ measurements of the ionospheric plasma that we use come from two instruments of the scientific payload of the satellite DEMETER; the plasma analyser IAP （Instrument d＇analyse du plasma） and the Langmuir probe ISL （Instrument Sonde de Langmuir）. DEMETER is a micro-satellite realized by the CNES（Centre National d＇Etudes Spatiales, France） with a principal objective to seek a possible influence of the seismic activity on the electromagnetic waves in the ionosphere and on the ionospheric plasma. The satellite was placed on June 29, 2004, in a circular and quasi helio-synchronous orbit at -710 km altitude. The experiments function primarily at mid-latitudes （from ＋60° to -60°）. The IAP data were analysed to deduce the ion population （densities of the dominant ions, i.e. generally O^＋, H^＋ and He^＋） therefore the total ion density. The use of data IAP thus requires some precaution to make sure that the electric equilibrium conditions of the satellite, such as the satellite potential （Фsat）, are obtained during the treatment of routine, does not induce an error of measurement. When this potential is negative, the minority light ions H^＋ and He^＋ can be measured in a reliable way when their proportion is above 3% to 5% of that of O^＋. The critical limitation is： under certain conditions, the satellite potential becomes positive and reach a value about -0.5 V so that it becomes impossible to measure H^＋ ions. This is likely to involve a significant error on the composition and the density of the plasma. Therefore we carried out a calibration to estimate the missing density. The ISL experiment （Langmuir probe） provided the collected current/polarized tension characteristics of a cylindrical probe from which both electron density Ne and temperature Te were obtained. In some situations it is necessary to examine the accuracy of the electron density using another technique, for instance the high frequency （HF） spectrogram, provided by ICE （instrument champ     

Polymer Surface Treatment by Atmospheric Pressure Low Temperature Surface Discharge Plasma： Its Characteristics and Comparison with Low Pressure Oxygen Plasma Treatment

The polymer treatment with a low-temperature plasma jet generated on the atmospheric pressure surface discharge （SD） plasma is performed. The change of the surface property over time, in comparison with low pressure oxygen （O2） plasma treatment, is examined. As one compares the treatment by atmospheric pressure plasma to that by the low pressure O2 plasma of PS （polystyrene） the treatment effects were almost in complete agreement. However, when the atmospheric pressure plasma was used for PP（polypropylene）, it produced remarkable hydrophilic effects.     

Characteristics of Gliding Arc Discharge Plasma

A gliding arc discharge plasma and its characteristics are described. Analysis of the production principle of the plasma is presented. Some experimental results about two novel types of the gliding arc plasma generator have been obtained. These types of gliding arc plasma axe potentially usable in the chemical industry and environmental engineering.     

Plasma Uniformity in a Dual Frequency Capacitively Coupled Plasma Reactor Measured by Optical Emission Spectroscopy

Local measurement of plasma radial uniformity was performed in a dual frequency capacitively coupled argon plasma (DF-CCP) reactor using an optical probe. The optical probe collects the light emission from a small separate volume in plasma, thus enabling to diagnose the plasma uniformity for different experimental parameters. Both the gas pressure and the low-frequency (LF) power have apparent effects on the radial uniformity of argon plasma. With the increase in either pressure or LF power, the emission profiles changed from a bell-shaped to a double-peak distribution. The influence of a fused-silica ring around the electrodes on the plasma uniformity was also studied using the optical probe. Possible reasons that result in nonuniform plasmas in our experiments are discussed.     

Time Evolution of Artificial Plasma Cloud in Atmospheric Environment

By analyzing the time evolution of artificial plasma cloud in the high altitude of atmospheric environment, we found that there are two zones, an exponential attenuation zone and a linearly attenuating zone, existing in the spatial distribution of electron density of the artificial plasma clouds. The plasma generator‘s particle flux density only contributes to the exponential attenuation zone, and has no effect on the linear attenuation zone. The average electron density in the linear attenuation zone is about 10^-5 of neutral particle density, and can diffuse over a wide rarea, The conclusion will supply some valuable references to the research of electromagnetic wave and artificial plasma interaction, the plasma invisibleness research of missile and special aerocraft,and the design of artificial plasma source.     

Plasma Confinement Characteristics in Heliotron J--Spontaneous Change of Plasma Confinement State

Spontaneous transition of the plasma confinement mode was observed in the helicalaxis heliotron device “Heliotron J“ for three different plasma heating schemes, i.e. ECHonly, NBI-only and the combination of ECH and NBI. The transition seems to occur above a certain critical density. In addition to the confinement transition, a spontaneous shift of the hitting position of the divertor plasma flux on the wall was observed. This shift could be related with the change of the edge field topology caused by non-inductive toroidal currents.     

N2 Mole Fraction Dependence of Plasma Bullet Propagation in Premixed He/N2 Plasma Needle Discharge at Atmospheric Pressure

In this work, a computational modeling study on the mechanism of the acceleration behavior of a plasma bullet in needle-plane configuration is presented. Above all, in our model,two sub-models of time-dependent plasma dynamics and laminar flow are connected using a oneway coupled method, and both the working gas and the surrounding gas around the plasma jet are assumed to be the same, which are premixed He/N_2 gas. The mole fractions of the N_2(NMF)ingredient are set to be 0.01%, 0.1% and 1% in three cases, respectively. It is found that in each case, the plasma bullet accelerates with time to a peak velocity after it exits the nozzle and then decreases until getting to the treated surface, and that the velocity of the plasma bullet increases at each time moment with the peak value changing from 0.72×10~6m/s to 0.80×10~6m/s but then drops more sharply when the NMF varies from 0.01% to 1%. Besides, the electron impact ionizations of helium neutrals and nitrogen molecules are found to have key influences on the propagation of a plasma bullet instead of the penning ionization.     

Plasma Density Measurements in Cable Gun Experiments with a Sensitive He-Ne Interferometer

A time-resolved sensitive He-Ne laser interferometer without complicated active stabilization was built up and applied to low-density plasma measurements. A precision of about 0.2° in phase measurements was achieved with a minimum line-integrated plasma density as low as 8.3× 10^13 cm^-2. With this interferometer, the characteristics of the plasma generated by a cable plasma gun was investigated systematically. The reproducibility, spatial and temporal distributions and the averaged injection velocity of the plasma are presented. In addition, the interaction of the plasma flow with a conductor was studied by placing a metal plate in the downstream of the cable gun.