Dense and quiescent magnetized plasma with a low-pressure hollow-cathode discharge

Abstract

Diffusion of a low-pressure (10−2 Torr) hollow-cathode discharge through an anode screen produces a linear, homogeneous, and quiescent plasma column (14 mm in diameter, 80 cm in length) in a strong magnetic field (max 3 kG). Electron temperatures and densities in this plasma, as measured by Langmuir probe and microwave cavity perturbation techniques are, respectively, in the ranges of 0.3–1.2 eV and 109–1011 cm−3. Plasma noise fluctuations (e≂fl/kBTe) at the center of the plasma are about 3%.