Applied Plasma Physics Experiments in Linear (APPEL) device for plasma surface interaction studies

Abstract

The APPEL device (Applied Plasma Physics Experiments in Linear Device), recently commissioned at the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), is an intermediate setup towards building a Plasma Material Interaction (PMI) facility. A particular application of this device is to develop and test high-density, low-pressure plasma sources that can be operated under magnetic fields; optimize the plasma sources for working under various magnetic field configurations; and perform physics experiments relevant to electron heating and plasma interactions with external electrodes. The setup consists of 16 electromagnets that provide a flexible, steady-state axial magnetic field in excess of 0.4 T over an axial distance of 3.5 m, with 2 % radial uniformity across 32.0 cm diameter. This paper gives a brief overview of the APPEL device, emphasizes on the APPEL magnet system, and presents the characteristics of a 3.5 m long, high-density (1017–1018 m−3) helium plasma column, using a hollow cathode plasma source obtained in the pressure range below i.e., p < 2.0 Pa. The corresponding ion flux is found to be in the range of 1021 -1022 m−2s−1, similar to other linear systems currently in use for plasma surface interaction studies. A qualitative discussion is given to explain the characteristics of the plasma column.