Generation and Application of Highly Ionized Quiescent Cesium Plasma in Steady State

A method of generating highly ionized quiescent plasmas in steady state is presented. Plasma densities in excess of 4×1012 ions/cm3 at greater than 90 per cent ionization have been obtained. The validity of double probe measurements of plasma density and temperature in the presence of a dc magnetic field up to about 1500 gauss has been established. The recombination coefficient a of highly ionized cesium plasmas up to densities exceeding 4×1012 ions/cm3 has been found to be equal to or less than 3×10-11 cm3/sec, at least an order of magnitude smaller than the lowest value published to date. A valuable technique for basic as well as applied plasma research has thus been developed and directly applicable results obtained.