The HelCat Helicon-Cathode Device at UNM

POSTER

Abstract

The HelCat helicon-cathode device is a dual-source linear plasma device for investigating a wide variety of basic plasma phenomena. ~HelCat is 4 m long, 50 cm diameter, with axial magnetic field $<$ 2.2 kG. An RF helicon source is at one end of the device, and a thermionic BaO-Ni cathode is at the other end. Current research topics include the relationship of turbulence to sheared plasma flows, deterministic chaos, Alfv\'{e}n wave propagation and damping, and merging plasma interaction. We present an overview of the ongoing research, and focus on recent results of merging helicon and cathode plasma. We will present some really cool movies.

Authors

  • Christopher Watts

    • University of New Mexico
    • Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
    • UNM

  • Christopher Watts

    • University of New Mexico
    • Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
    • UNM

  • Mark Gilmore

    • University of New Mexico

  • Tiffany Hayes

    • University of New Mexico

  • Ralph Kelly

    • University of New Mexico

  • Christopher Leach

    • University of New Mexico

  • Alan Lynn

    • University of New Mexico

  • Andrew Sanchez

    • University of New Mexico

  • Shuangwei Xie

    • University of New Mexico

  • Lincan Yan

    • University of New Mexico

  • Yue Zhang

    • University of New Mexico