Spectral and electrical diagnosis of complex space-charge structures excited by a spherical grid cathode with orifice**Dedicated to Hans Pécseli at the occasion of his 70th birthday, an extraordinary plasma physicist and a wonderful, noble and warm-hearted friend for more than 40 years.

Abstract

Optical emission spectroscopy and Langmuir probes were used to diagnose complex space-charge structures that appear inside and around a spherical grid with orifice applying a negative voltage below a critical value to it. Measurements (through the orifice) delivered the axial profiles of plasma potential, electron temperature and density, and of the densities of excited atoms and ions. Thereby the formation of a double layer was found in the region near the orifice with a potential drop close to the ionisation potential of the applied gas, confirming the presence of a fireball in that region (also evidenced by visual observation), i.e. of a quasi-spherical bright plasma region consisting of a positive core (an ion-rich plasma) confined by a double layer. Spectral investigations confirmed the presence of high ion density inside the spherical grid (due to the hollow cathode effect), while outside the grid a transition region with a strong rate of ionisation and excitation processes appears. Information on the nonlinear dynamics of this space-charge structure was obtained from the analysis of the oscillations of the discharge current, as well as of the floating potential inside and outside the spherical grid.