Title :
Laser-induced fluorescence characterization of ions emitted from hollow cathodes
Author :
Williams, George J., Jr. ; Smith, Timothy B. ; Domonkos, Matthew T. ; Gallimore, Alec D. ; Drake, R.P.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Aerosp. Eng., Michigan Univ., Ann Arbor, MI, USA
fDate :
10/1/2000 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) was used to measure the mean and variance of the velocity distribution of xenon ions emitted from two hollow cathode assemblies operating at low power. High-energy ions detected in plume-mode and spot-mode operation are consistent with the potential-hill model of high-energy ion production. The distributions of velocities were modeled, yielding temperatures on the order of a few electronvolts in plume mode and 1 eV in spot mode. The LIF of neutral xenon atoms in the plumes indicated thermal temperatures significantly less than the temperatures associated with the ion velocity distributions
Keywords :
cathodes; electric propulsion; fluorescence; ion emission; plasma diagnostics; positive ions; xenon; Xe; Xe ions; electric propulsion; high-energy ions; hollow cathode assemblies; hollow cathodes; ion emission; ion propulsion; ion velocity distributions; laser-induced fluorescence characterization; mean; neutral xenon atoms; plasma diagnostics; plume mode; potential-hill model; spot mode operation; thermal temperatures; variance; velocity distribution; velocity distributions; Assembly; Cathodes; Fluorescence; Laser modes; Power lasers; Power measurement; Production; Temperature distribution; Velocity measurement; Xenon;
Journal_Title :
Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on
