Experimental characterization of hollow-cathode plasma sources at Frascati
Abstract
An experimental characterization has been conducted for hollow cathodes applicable as plasma contactors on Space Shuttle-based experiments. The diagnostics tests were conducted in an 0.5 cu m vacuum chamber by means of Langmuir probes at various distances from the source. Two electron populations are noted, one in the 0.3-1 eV and the other in the 7-11 eV temperature range. Current developments in the design of plasma chambers incorporating magnetic field compensation are noted.
- Publication:
-
Space Tethers for Science in the Space Station Era
- Pub Date:
- 1988
- Bibcode:
- 1988stss.proc..254V
- Keywords:
-
- Electron Energy;
- Electrostatic Probes;
- Hollow Cathodes;
- Plasma Electrodes;
- Vacuum Chambers;
- Magnetic Coils;
- Magnetic Fields;
- Nasa Space Programs;
- Tethered Satellites;
- Plasma Physics