Test-ion diffusion in a magnetized plasma
Abstract
Cross-field transport of barium test ions is studied in a Q-machine plasma. Test particles are produced and tracked in their motion by an optical tagging method. The comparison between the measured tag signal and a simple theoretical simulation yields a quantitative evaluation of the ion diffusivity. Diffusion is supported by classical mechanisms. The injection of different noble buffer gases modifies the plasma parameters in such a way that the diffusion remains classical but its magnitude is considerably reduced.
- Publication:
-
IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science
- Pub Date:
- December 1992
- DOI:
- 10.1109/27.199508
- Bibcode:
- 1992ITPS...20..655F
- Keywords:
-
- Barium Ion Clouds;
- Earth Ionosphere;
- Ion Injection;
- Plasma Diffusion;
- Space Plasmas;
- Crossed Fields;
- Particle Tracks;
- Plasma Diagnostics;
- Plasma Physics