The ion source of the electron cyclotron resonance ion thruster(ECRIT) extracts ions from its ECR plasma to generate thrust, and has the property of low gas consumption(2 sccm,standard-state cubic centimeter per minut...The ion source of the electron cyclotron resonance ion thruster(ECRIT) extracts ions from its ECR plasma to generate thrust, and has the property of low gas consumption(2 sccm,standard-state cubic centimeter per minute) and high durability. Due to the indispensable effects of the primary electron in gas discharge, it is important to experimentally clarify the electron energy structure within the ion source of the ECRIT through analyzing the electron energy distribution function(EEDF) of the plasma inside the thruster. In this article the Langmuir probe diagnosing method was used to diagnose the EEDF, from which the effective electron temperature, plasma density and the electron energy probability function(EEPF) were deduced. The experimental results show that the magnetic field influences the curves of EEDF and EEPF and make the effective plasma parameter nonuniform. The diagnosed electron temperature and density from sample points increased from 4 eV/2×10^(16)m^(-3) to 10 eV/4×10^(16)m(-3) with increasing distances from both the axis and the screen grid of the ion source. Electron temperature and density peaking near the wall coincided with the discharge process. However, a double Maxwellian electron distribution was unexpectedly observed at the position near the axis of the ion source and about 30 mm from the screen grid. Besides, the double Maxwellian electron distribution was more likely to emerge at high power and a low gas flow rate. These phenomena were believed to relate to the arrangements of the gas inlets and the magnetic field where the double Maxwellian electron distribution exits. The results of this research may enhance the understanding of the plasma generation process in the ion source of this type and help to improve its performance.展开更多
The present work reports an investigation on the role played by Na3+ ions formed through triatomic associative ionization collision of Na(4d) atoms with Na2 ground state molecules during the early phase of sodium plas...The present work reports an investigation on the role played by Na3+ ions formed through triatomic associative ionization collision of Na(4d) atoms with Na2 ground state molecules during the early phase of sodium plasma generation by laser ionization based on resonance saturation (LIBORS). Such ionization mechanism is observed experimentally for the first time by Tapalian and Smith (1993) [1]. In their experiment, stepwise atomic excitations are created using two CW dye lasers;one laser is tuned to 589 nm to excite the Na(3s) to Na(3p) D2 transition of sodium and the other laser is tuned 569 nm to excite the Na(3p) to Na(4d) transition. The analysis is grounded on a numerical study of the role of seed electron processes on the temporal evolution of sodium plasma formation by laser irradiation. A previously developed numerical model based on LIBORS technique is modified and adopted. In the present study, the sodium atom is treated as an atom comprises 22 levels namely: a ground state, 18 excited states and three ionic states (atomic, molecular and tri-atomic). The model tackled various collisional and radiative processes that act to enhance and deplete the free electrons generated in the interaction region. The contribution of these processes is signified by solving numerically a system of time-dependent rate equations, which couple the generated atomic and ionic species with the laser fields. Meanwhile, it solves the time-dependent Boltzmann equation for the electron energy distribution function (EEDF) of the generated electrons. The computed values of the EEDF, time evolution of both excited states population and the formed ionic species considering the individual effect of associative ionization, Penning, and photo-ionization and triatomic associative ionization justified the important effect of each of these ionizing processes in creating the early stage electrons. These seed electrons are assumed to rapidly gain energy through superelastic collisions leading eventually to plasma development.展开更多
We present a theoretical investigation of plasma generation in sodium vapor induced by laser radiation tuned to the first resonance line (3S-3P) at λ = 589 ns. A set of rate equations that describe the rate of change...We present a theoretical investigation of plasma generation in sodium vapor induced by laser radiation tuned to the first resonance line (3S-3P) at λ = 589 ns. A set of rate equations that describe the rate of change of the ground and excited states population as well as the temporal variation of the electron energy distribution function (EEDF), beside the formed atomic ion Na+, molecular ion ?and tri-atomic ions are solved numerically. The calculations are carried out at different laser energy and different sodium atomic vapor densities under the experimental conditions of Tapalian and Smith (1993) to test the existence of the formed tri-atomic ions. The numerical calculations of the electron energy distribution function (EEDF) show that a deviation from the Maxwellian distribution due to the super elastic collisions effect. In addition to the competition between associative ionization (3P-3P), associative ionization (3P-3D) and Molnar-Horn- beck ionization processes for producing , the calculations have also shown that the atomic ions Na+ are formed through the Penning ionization and photoionization processes. These results are found to be consistent with the experimental observations.展开更多
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.11475137)
文摘The ion source of the electron cyclotron resonance ion thruster(ECRIT) extracts ions from its ECR plasma to generate thrust, and has the property of low gas consumption(2 sccm,standard-state cubic centimeter per minute) and high durability. Due to the indispensable effects of the primary electron in gas discharge, it is important to experimentally clarify the electron energy structure within the ion source of the ECRIT through analyzing the electron energy distribution function(EEDF) of the plasma inside the thruster. In this article the Langmuir probe diagnosing method was used to diagnose the EEDF, from which the effective electron temperature, plasma density and the electron energy probability function(EEPF) were deduced. The experimental results show that the magnetic field influences the curves of EEDF and EEPF and make the effective plasma parameter nonuniform. The diagnosed electron temperature and density from sample points increased from 4 eV/2×10^(16)m^(-3) to 10 eV/4×10^(16)m(-3) with increasing distances from both the axis and the screen grid of the ion source. Electron temperature and density peaking near the wall coincided with the discharge process. However, a double Maxwellian electron distribution was unexpectedly observed at the position near the axis of the ion source and about 30 mm from the screen grid. Besides, the double Maxwellian electron distribution was more likely to emerge at high power and a low gas flow rate. These phenomena were believed to relate to the arrangements of the gas inlets and the magnetic field where the double Maxwellian electron distribution exits. The results of this research may enhance the understanding of the plasma generation process in the ion source of this type and help to improve its performance.
文摘The present work reports an investigation on the role played by Na3+ ions formed through triatomic associative ionization collision of Na(4d) atoms with Na2 ground state molecules during the early phase of sodium plasma generation by laser ionization based on resonance saturation (LIBORS). Such ionization mechanism is observed experimentally for the first time by Tapalian and Smith (1993) [1]. In their experiment, stepwise atomic excitations are created using two CW dye lasers;one laser is tuned to 589 nm to excite the Na(3s) to Na(3p) D2 transition of sodium and the other laser is tuned 569 nm to excite the Na(3p) to Na(4d) transition. The analysis is grounded on a numerical study of the role of seed electron processes on the temporal evolution of sodium plasma formation by laser irradiation. A previously developed numerical model based on LIBORS technique is modified and adopted. In the present study, the sodium atom is treated as an atom comprises 22 levels namely: a ground state, 18 excited states and three ionic states (atomic, molecular and tri-atomic). The model tackled various collisional and radiative processes that act to enhance and deplete the free electrons generated in the interaction region. The contribution of these processes is signified by solving numerically a system of time-dependent rate equations, which couple the generated atomic and ionic species with the laser fields. Meanwhile, it solves the time-dependent Boltzmann equation for the electron energy distribution function (EEDF) of the generated electrons. The computed values of the EEDF, time evolution of both excited states population and the formed ionic species considering the individual effect of associative ionization, Penning, and photo-ionization and triatomic associative ionization justified the important effect of each of these ionizing processes in creating the early stage electrons. These seed electrons are assumed to rapidly gain energy through superelastic collisions leading eventually to plasma development.
文摘We present a theoretical investigation of plasma generation in sodium vapor induced by laser radiation tuned to the first resonance line (3S-3P) at λ = 589 ns. A set of rate equations that describe the rate of change of the ground and excited states population as well as the temporal variation of the electron energy distribution function (EEDF), beside the formed atomic ion Na+, molecular ion ?and tri-atomic ions are solved numerically. The calculations are carried out at different laser energy and different sodium atomic vapor densities under the experimental conditions of Tapalian and Smith (1993) to test the existence of the formed tri-atomic ions. The numerical calculations of the electron energy distribution function (EEDF) show that a deviation from the Maxwellian distribution due to the super elastic collisions effect. In addition to the competition between associative ionization (3P-3P), associative ionization (3P-3D) and Molnar-Horn- beck ionization processes for producing , the calculations have also shown that the atomic ions Na+ are formed through the Penning ionization and photoionization processes. These results are found to be consistent with the experimental observations.
