ELECTRON-TEMPERATURE AND DENSITY PROFILES IN A NEUTRAL LOOP DISCHARGEPLASMA

Thomson scattering measurements of electron temperature and density in a neutral loop discharge (NLD) plasma were performed in order to reve al electron behavior around the neutral loop. The method yielded unamb iguous and reliable results: enabling quantitative analyses of particl e balance to be made. The results showed that the electron temperature had a peak on the neutral loop and, in contrast, the electron density had a peak at a position radially inward from the neutral loop. We su ggest that charged particles are produced by electron impact ionizatio n of argon atoms on the neutral loop and then flow radially inward. Th e effect of the magnetic field strength on the NLD plasma formation is also discussed.