Research Directed Toward the Study of Ionic and Neutral Species in Thermal Plasmas

摘要

Two sets of experiments were designed to study the gas discharge in cesium plasma thermionic converters. The first experiments measured the energy spectra of charged particles extracted through a small hole in the anode of an operating energy converter. From these ion and electron spectra the temperatures were deduced and the emitter sheath height was measured. The se The second experiments were to investigate cross sections relevant to an understanding of the ionization processes present in the converter. The ionization and charge exchange cross sections were studied in detail. In addition to the various cross sections, the reflection of zero energy electrons at surfaces was investigated both by experiment and by computer experiment. Results and experimental techniques are described in detail. (Author)