How is Bohm's criterion satisfied in the neighborhood of a negatively biased grid (immersed in Kr+ plasma, or is it?
POSTER
Abstract
We present experimental studies of Bohm's Criterion for sheath formation in a single species Kr+ ion plasma in the vicinity of a negatively biased grid (-100V, with respect to chamber ground), in a hot filament, DC discharge, multi-dipole device (length = 70 cm, diameter = 60 cm) at the University of San Diego, in which a Kr discharge was operated with a neutral pressure of 0.1-0.5mTorr, 1 ≤ ne ≤ 3 x109 cm-3 and Te ≈ 1-3 eV. Our grid is approximately 50% transparent stainless steel mesh, approximately 25 lines/cm. Prior measurements in a similar but smaller device indicated that the first moment of the ion velocity distribution function (ivdf) was 0.8 (kT_e/M)1/2 ± 6% at the sheath edge, as determined by diode laser based laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) together with emissive probe measurements analyzed by the inflection point method in the limit of zero emission. Our concern is whether ion flow counter to that of ions falling through the presheath of the grid, toward the grid, alters sheath formation in some way. We plan to calibrate these results with measurements (ivdf, plasma potential, and density axial profiles) in the neighborhood of an opaque, solid, negatively biased plate free from counter streaming ions.
Presenters
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Gregory D Severn
Dept. Phys. & Biophysics, University of San Diego
Authors
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Gregory D Severn
Dept. Phys. & Biophysics, University of San Diego
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Caleb Drew McCrillis
Dept. Physics & Biophysics, University of San Diego
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Luke McKenna
Dept. Physics & Biophysics, University of San Diego
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Ciera Canady
Dept. Physics & Engr. Physics, Morgan State University
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A'Maya Duncan
Dept. Physics & Engr. Physics, Morgan State University