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Battery-powered pulsed high density inductively coupled plasma source for pre-ionization in laboratory astrophysics
Vernon H Chaplin1, Paul M Bellan1
1California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|August 3, 2015
Summary
A new radiofrequency (RF) plasma source enables lower pressure gas breakdown for laboratory astrophysics. This electrically floating device achieved high ion densities and improved plasma jet experiments.
Area of Science:
- Plasma Physics
- Laboratory Astrophysics
- RF Discharges
Background:
- Achieving neutral gas breakdown at lower pressures is crucial for advanced plasma experiments.
- Existing pre-ionization methods may have limitations in specific experimental setups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an electrically floating radiofrequency (RF) pre-ionization plasma source.
- To enable neutral gas breakdown at lower pressures for laboratory astrophysics.
- To access new experimental regimes in high voltage pulsed power experiments.
Main Methods:
- Developed a custom 13.56 MHz class D RF power amplifier powered by batteries.
- Utilized an external antenna for energy coupling to the plasma in a 1.1 cm radius discharge tube.
- Employed a global equilibrium discharge model to analyze plasma density scaling.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated inductive coupling as the dominant energy transfer mechanism.
- Achieved peak ion densities exceeding 5 × 10^19 m^-3 in argon at 30 mTorr.
- Reduced breakdown time and jitter in magnetohydrodynamically driven jet experiments.
Conclusions:
- The electrically floating RF pre-ionization source successfully enables lower pressure gas breakdown.
- The source facilitates the creation of hotter, faster argon plasma jets.
- This technology opens new experimental possibilities in laboratory astrophysics and plasma physics.
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