Flowing plasmas are of significant interest due to their role in astrophysical phenomena and potential applications in magnetic-confined fusion and spacecraft propulsion. The acceleration of a charge-neutral plasma beam using the radio-frequency self-bias concept could be particularly useful for the development of neutralizer-free propulsion sources. However, the mechanisms that lead to space-charge compensation of the exhaust beam are unclear. Here, we spatially and temporally resolve the propagation of electrons in an accelerated plasma beam that is generated using the self-bias concept with phase-resolved optical emission spectroscopy. When combined with measurements of the extraction-grid voltage, ion and electron currents, and plasma potential, the pulsed-periodic propagation of electrons during the interval of sheath collapse at the grids is found to enable the compensation of space charge.
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Letter|
May 23 2017
Transient propagation dynamics of flowing plasmas accelerated by radio-frequency electric fields
James Dedrick;
James Dedrick
1York Plasma Institute, Department of Physics,
University of York
, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
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Andrew Robert Gibson;
Andrew Robert Gibson
1York Plasma Institute, Department of Physics,
University of York
, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
2
LPP, CNRS
, Ecole Polytechnique, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, Univ. Paris-Sud, Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris-Saclay, Sorbonne Universités, PSL Research University, 91128 Palaiseau, France
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Dmytro Rafalskyi;
Dmytro Rafalskyi
2
LPP, CNRS
, Ecole Polytechnique, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, Univ. Paris-Sud, Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris-Saclay, Sorbonne Universités, PSL Research University, 91128 Palaiseau, France
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Ane Aanesland
Ane Aanesland
2
LPP, CNRS
, Ecole Polytechnique, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, Univ. Paris-Sud, Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris-Saclay, Sorbonne Universités, PSL Research University, 91128 Palaiseau, France
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Phys. Plasmas 24, 050703 (2017)
Article history
Received:
March 09 2017
Accepted:
April 24 2017
Citation
James Dedrick, Andrew Robert Gibson, Dmytro Rafalskyi, Ane Aanesland; Transient propagation dynamics of flowing plasmas accelerated by radio-frequency electric fields. Phys. Plasmas 1 May 2017; 24 (5): 050703. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4983059
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