Gas pre-ionization system for DECADE Module 2 PRS experiments

Author

Weber, B.V. ; Stephanakis, S.J. ; Moosman, B. ; Fisher, R.C. ; Hinshelwood, D.D. ; Commisso, R.J. ; Fisher, A. ; Riordan, J.C. ; LePell, P.D. ; Levine, J.S. ; Song, Y.

Author_Institution

Div. of Plasma Phys., Naval Res. Lab., Washington, DC, USA

Volume

1

fYear

1998

fDate

6/20/1905 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

342

Abstract

DECADE Module 2 (DM2) implodes argon gas-puffs in 200-300 ns from initial radii of 2.5-5 cm to generate K-line radiation. An important issue for these experiments is the lower-than-expected K-line radiation associated with such large radius implosions. Preionization may improve the implosion quality by improving the symmetry of the initial current flow. A preionizer is described based on photoionization by ultraviolet (UV) illumination from a flashover source. The preionization is diagnosed using a high-sensitivity interferometer. This UV source produces 1-10% ionization of the outer periphery of the argon gas distribution prior to the arrival of the flashboard plasma. DM2 experiments indicate increased, more reproducible K-shell yields when this preionization system is incorporated

Keywords

electromagnetic wave interferometers; exploding wires; flashover; photoionisation; plasma diagnostics; preionisation; 200 to 300 ns; 5 to 10 cm; Ar; DECADE Module 2 PRS experiments; K-line radiation; flashover; gas preionization system; gas-puffs; high-sensitivity interferometer; initial current flow; large radius implosions; ultraviolet illumination photoionization; Argon; Density measurement; Flashover; Ionization; Physics; Plasma density; Plasma diagnostics; Plasma measurements; Plasma sources; Power generation;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

High-Power Particle Beams, 1998. BEAMS '98. Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on

Conference_Location

Haifa

Print_ISBN

0-7803-4287-9

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/BEAMS.1998.822450

Filename

822450