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Magnetic and Langmuir Probe Measurements on the Plasmoid Thruster Experiment (PTX)

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This paper presents magnetic field and plasma diagnostic measurements performed on the Plasmoid Thruster Experiment (PTX), a pulsed inductive accelerator utilizing a conical theta-pinch coil. An array of B-dot magnetic probes and a quadruple Langmuir probe were constructed and utilized to determine magnetic field structures, electron number density, electron temperature, and bulk plasma flow velocity ratios for both argon and hydrogen propellants. Experimental results confirmed the formation and acceleration of plasmoids with characteristic magnetic field reversals, indicating the viability of inductive plasma acceleration without electrode erosion.
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ST_CODE: 086624

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DOC-20040086

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Magnetic and Langmuir Probe Measurements on the Plasmoid Thruster Experiment (PTX) Syri J. Koelfgen* University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), Propulsion Research Center, S225 Technology Hall, Huntsville, AL 35899 Richard Eskridge,† Michael H. Lee,‡ and Adam Martin§ NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), Propulsion Research Center TD40, Huntsville, AL 35812 Clark W. Hawk,¶ and Peter Fimognari# University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), Propulsion Research Center, S225 Technology Hall, Huntsville, AL 35899 The Plasmoid Thruster Experiment (PTX) operates by inductively producing plasmoids in a conical theta-pinch coil and ejecting them at high velocity. A plasmoid is a plasma with an imbedded closed magnetic field structure. The shape and magnetic field structure of the translating plasmoids have been measured with an array of magnetic field probes. Six sets of two B-dot probes were constructed for measuring Bz and Bθ, the axial and azimuthal components of the magnetic field. The probes are wound on a square G-10 form, and have an average (calibrated) NA of 9.37 x 10^-5 m^2, where N is the number of turns and A is the cross-sectional area. The probes were calibrated with a Helmholtz coil, driven by a high-voltage pulser to measure NA, and by a signal generator to determine the probe's frequency response. The plasmoid electron number density ne, electron temperature Te, and velocity ratio v/cm (where v is the bulk plasma flow velocity and cm is the ion thermal speed) have also been measured with a quadruple Langmuir probe. The Langmuir probe tips are 10 mm long, 20-mil diameter stainless steel wire, housed in a 6-inch long 4-bore alumina rod. Measurements on PTX with argon and hydrogen from the magnetic field probes and quadruple Langmuir probe will be presented in this paper.

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This paper presents magnetic field and plasma diagnostic measurements performed on the Plasmoid Thruster Experiment (PTX), a pulsed inductive accelerator utilizing a conical theta-pinch coil. An array of B-dot magnetic probes and a quadruple Langmuir probe were constructed and utilized to determine ...