Electron heating in a multi-dipole plasma by electrostatic plugging

Abstract

AbstractThe effect of the electrostatic confinement potential on electron number densities and electron temperatures under bi-Maxwellian approximation for electron distribution function has been studied in an electrostatically plugged multi-dipole argon plasma system. Electrostatic plugging is implemented by biasing the electrically isolated multi-dipole magnetic cage. Experimental results show that the density ratio (N) and temperature ratio (T) of the two electron groups can be controlled by changing the voltage applied to the magnetic cage. Out of the two groups of electrons, one group has the cold electrons, which are plasma electrons produced by the ionization process, and the other group has the hot primary electrons.