High power light gas helicon plasma source for VASIMR

Jared P. Squire; Franklin R. Chang-Díaz; Timothy W. Glover; Verlin T. Jacobson; Greg E. McCaskill; D. Scott Winter; F. Wally Baity; Mark D. Carter; Richard H. Goulding

doi:10.1016/j.tsf.2005.08.061

High power light gas helicon plasma source for VASIMR

Jared P. Squire, Franklin R. Chang-Díaz, Timothy W. Glover, Verlin T. Jacobson, Greg E. McCaskill, D. Scott Winter, F. Wally Baity, Mark D. Carter, Richard H. Goulding

Fusion Technology

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35 Scopus citations

Abstract

In the Advanced Space Propulsion Laboratory (ASPL) helicon experiment (VX-10) we have measured a plasma flux to input gas rate ratio near 100% for both helium and deuterium at power levels up to 10 kW. Recent results at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) show enhanced efficiency operation with a high power density, over 5 kW in a 5 cm diameter tube. Our helicon is presently 9 cm in diameter and operates up to 10 kW of input power. The data here uses a Boswell double-saddle antenna design with a magnetic cusp just upstream of the antenna. Similar to ORNL, for deuterium at near 10 kW, we find an enhanced performance of operation at magnetic fields above the lower hybrid matching condition.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	579-582
Number of pages	4
Journal	Thin Solid Films
Volume	506-507
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2005.08.061
State	Published - May 26 2006

Keywords

Experimental methods
Helicon
Plasma propulsion

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10.1016/j.tsf.2005.08.061

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title = "High power light gas helicon plasma source for VASIMR",

abstract = "In the Advanced Space Propulsion Laboratory (ASPL) helicon experiment (VX-10) we have measured a plasma flux to input gas rate ratio near 100\% for both helium and deuterium at power levels up to 10 kW. Recent results at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) show enhanced efficiency operation with a high power density, over 5 kW in a 5 cm diameter tube. Our helicon is presently 9 cm in diameter and operates up to 10 kW of input power. The data here uses a Boswell double-saddle antenna design with a magnetic cusp just upstream of the antenna. Similar to ORNL, for deuterium at near 10 kW, we find an enhanced performance of operation at magnetic fields above the lower hybrid matching condition.",

keywords = "Experimental methods, Helicon, Plasma propulsion",

author = "Squire, \{Jared P.\} and Chang-D{\'i}az, \{Franklin R.\} and Glover, \{Timothy W.\} and Jacobson, \{Verlin T.\} and McCaskill, \{Greg E.\} and Winter, \{D. Scott\} and Baity, \{F. Wally\} and Carter, \{Mark D.\} and Goulding, \{Richard H.\}",

year = "2006",

month = may,

day = "26",

doi = "10.1016/j.tsf.2005.08.061",

language = "English",

volume = "506-507",

pages = "579--582",

journal = "Thin Solid Films",

issn = "0040-6090",

publisher = "Elsevier",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - High power light gas helicon plasma source for VASIMR

AU - Squire, Jared P.

AU - Chang-Díaz, Franklin R.

AU - Glover, Timothy W.

AU - Jacobson, Verlin T.

AU - McCaskill, Greg E.

AU - Winter, D. Scott

AU - Baity, F. Wally

AU - Carter, Mark D.

AU - Goulding, Richard H.

PY - 2006/5/26

Y1 - 2006/5/26

N2 - In the Advanced Space Propulsion Laboratory (ASPL) helicon experiment (VX-10) we have measured a plasma flux to input gas rate ratio near 100% for both helium and deuterium at power levels up to 10 kW. Recent results at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) show enhanced efficiency operation with a high power density, over 5 kW in a 5 cm diameter tube. Our helicon is presently 9 cm in diameter and operates up to 10 kW of input power. The data here uses a Boswell double-saddle antenna design with a magnetic cusp just upstream of the antenna. Similar to ORNL, for deuterium at near 10 kW, we find an enhanced performance of operation at magnetic fields above the lower hybrid matching condition.

AB - In the Advanced Space Propulsion Laboratory (ASPL) helicon experiment (VX-10) we have measured a plasma flux to input gas rate ratio near 100% for both helium and deuterium at power levels up to 10 kW. Recent results at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) show enhanced efficiency operation with a high power density, over 5 kW in a 5 cm diameter tube. Our helicon is presently 9 cm in diameter and operates up to 10 kW of input power. The data here uses a Boswell double-saddle antenna design with a magnetic cusp just upstream of the antenna. Similar to ORNL, for deuterium at near 10 kW, we find an enhanced performance of operation at magnetic fields above the lower hybrid matching condition.

KW - Experimental methods

KW - Helicon

KW - Plasma propulsion

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33645238292&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.tsf.2005.08.061

DO - 10.1016/j.tsf.2005.08.061

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:33645238292

SN - 0040-6090

VL - 506-507

SP - 579

EP - 582

JO - Thin Solid Films

JF - Thin Solid Films

ER -

High power light gas helicon plasma source for VASIMR

Abstract

Keywords

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