Ion-Acoustic Wave-Particle Energy Flow Rates

We present an experimental characterization of the energy flow rates for ion acoustic waves. The experiment is performed in a cylindrical, magnetized, singly-ionized Argon, inductively-coupled gas discharge plasma that is weakly collisional with typical conditions: n\textasciitilde 10$^{\mathrm{9}}$cm$^{\mathrm{-3}}$ T$_{\mathrm{e}}$\textasciitilde 9 eV and B\textasciitilde 660 kG. A 4 ring antenna with diameter similar to the plasma diameter is used for launching the waves. A survey of the zeroth and first order ion velocity distribution functions (IVDF) is done using Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF) as the main diagnostics method. Using these IVDFs along with Vlasov's equation the different energy rates are measured for different values of ion velocity and separation from the antenna.