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BABE – a brush cathode discharge for thermal fluctuation measurements

Part of: Experiments Fundamental Plasma Physics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 December 2014

S. Ratynskaia ,
G. Dilecce  and
P. Tolias
S. Ratynskaia*
Affiliation:
Space and Plasma Physics, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden
G. Dilecce
Affiliation:
Istituto di Metodologie Inorganiche e dei Plasmi - CNR, Bari, Italy
P. Tolias
Affiliation:
Space and Plasma Physics, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden
*
†Email address for correspondence: [email protected]
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Abstract

For experimental tests of fluctuation theory in ideal plasmas and plasmas seeded with dust, the ideal environment would be that of stable quiescent plasma. In most laboratory plasmas the homogeneous state of the positive column is often unstable, rare exceptions are the so-called brush cathode discharges, proposed in the 60s, where a specially manufactured cathode allows stable operation in the abnormal glow regime and the only fluctuations present are those due the thermal motion of the particles. Such a device, the BAri Brush Electrode (BABE), has recently been built in a novel configuration that combines the advantages of the inverse design with those of the reflex geometry. The region between the two anodes is essentially field-free and extremely stable in wide range of plasma densities and collisionalities. Unprecedented low fluctuation levels of δn/n ⩽ 10−5 in He and δn/n ⩽ 5 × 10−6 in Ar discharges have been achieved.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Plasma Physics , Volume 81 , Issue 2 , April 2015 , 345810202
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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