PPPL-4094 is available in pdf format (320 KB).

Plasma Acceleration from RF Discharge in Dielectric Capillary

Authors: A. Dunaevsky, Y. Raitses, and N. J. Fisch

Date of PPPL Report: August 2005

Submitted to: Physics of Plasmas

Plasma acceleration from rf discharge in dielectric capillary was demonstrated. Observed plasma flow had ion energies of ∼100 eV and electron energies of ∼20 eV. The discharge was powered by a MHz-range rf generator and fed by Ar. Experimental results indicate possible validity of assumptions about formation of a potential difference at the open end of the capillary and presence of hot electron fraction in the capillary discharge. Simplicity and small dimensions of the source are attractive for micro-propulsion applications.