DOE OSTI2014
Ion velocities and temperatures are measured in the presheath of a grounded plate downstream from an argon helicon plasma source using laser-induced fluorescence (P{sub rf}≈450→750 W, T{sub e}=2.5→5 eV, T{sub i}=0.1→0.6 eV, n{sub 0}≈1×10{sup 12}cm{sup −3}, p{sub n}=1→6.5 mTorr, λ=0.3→2 cm, ρ{sub i}≈ 0.5 cm). The plate is held 16°→60° relative to the 1 kG background axial magnetic field. The velocity profiles are compared to a 1D fluid model similar to those presented by Riemann [Phys. Plasmas 1, 552 (1994)] and Ahedo [Phys. Plasmas 4, 4419 (1997)] for the 1 mTorr dataset and are shown to agree well. The model is sensitive to parameters such as collision and ionization frequencies and simplified models, such one presented by Chodura [Phys. Fluids 25, 1628 (1982)], are shown to be inaccurate. E{sup →}×B{sup →} flows as large as 40% of c{sub s} at the sheath edge are inferred. Definitions for the term “magnetic presheath” and implications for ion flow to tokamak divertors and Hall thruster walls are discussed.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗