Hot-Wire Calorimetry: Theory and Application to Ion Rocket Research

摘要

A very small calorimeter probe (0.001 by 0.25 cm) for measuring local power density in high-energy ion beams has been studied both theoretically and experimentally. For high sensitivity, the wire is heated by a detection current; the change in wire temperature due to ion impingement results in a voltage output. Both ion and joulean heat inputs are balanced by conduction along the wire to cooled supports. A steady-state calibration and error analysis is supported by experiment. Power-density measurements in 1- to 20-kilovolt cesium and mercury ion beams are presented as detailed spatial profile and contour maps. An analysis for the transient response of the hot-wire calorimeter was also verified by calibration experiments. (Author)