Strong Flows in Gas-Puff-Fueled Discharges in the LAPD

POSTER

Abstract

The Large Plasma Device (LAPD) at UCLA has been upgraded with a new main plasma source based on a large-area Lanthanum Hexaboride (LaB6) cathode in order to achieve electron densities in excess of 10^13 1/cm^3. To support high-density operations, the LAPD discharge is fueled by gas puffed from piezoelectric valves near the source, and the chamber is evacuated between shots. Strong parallel flows have been observed during gas-puff-fueled operations and we present data on the effects of discharge parameters (discharge power/voltage/current, heater current, gas fueling rate, shot duration) on flows and explore the impact these flows have on the LAPD plasma.

*Work performed using the Basic Plasma Science Facility, which is supported by DOE and NSF

Presenters

  • Anna L Kinderman

    • University of California, Los Angeles

Authors

  • Anna L Kinderman

    • University of California, Los Angeles

  • Thomas Look

    • University of California, Los Angeles
    • UCLA

  • Troy A Carter

    • University of California, Los Angeles