HOT PLASMA PRODUCTION IN QUASI-STEADY ARC-DISCHARGE FOR DIVERTOR PLASMA SIMULATOR

This article describes a type quasisteady arc plasma source developed for investigation of edge plasma physics in a fusion device. The sourc e is a modification of the gas-loaded washer-stack plasma gun [J. Oshe r, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 53, 1685 (1982)]. One of the principal features of describing the source is the formation of electrostatic thermobarri er for plasma electrons near the output of the plasma source. It has b een created by changing the polarity of the voltage applied to the dis charge as compared with the conventional case. In a new configuration of electrodes, the electrons are accelerated to the back of the inject ion direction of the plasma flow. A thermobarrier makes it possible to reach the following plasma parameters: Te approximate to 50 eV, n app roximate to 5x10(13) cm(-3), Ti approximate to 200 eV, and q approxima te to 1-10 kW/cm(2). (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S0034-67 48(98)02710-5].