Studies of beam plasma interactions in a space simulation chamber using prototype Space Shuttle instrumentsIn March, 1981, electron beam experiments were conducted in a large space simulation chamber using equipment destined to be flown aboard NASA's Office of Space Science-1 pallet (OSS-1). Two major flight experiments were involved. They include the Vehicle Charging and Potential (VCAP) experiment and the Plasma Diagnostics Package (PDP). Apparatus connected with VCAP included a Fast Pulse Electron Gun (FPEG), and a Charge and Current Probe (CCP). A preliminary view is provided of the results obtained when the electron emissions were held steady over relatively long periods of time such that steady state conditions could be obtained with respect to the electron beam interaction with the neutral gases and plasma of the vacuum chamber. Of particular interest was the plasma instability feature known as the Beam Plasma Discharge. For the present experiments the FPEG was used in a dc mode with a range of currents of 2 to 80 mA at a beam energy of 970 eV. Attention is given to the emissions of VLF and HF noise associated with the dc beam.
Document ID
19830052979
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Banks, P. M. (Utah State Univ. Logan, UT, United States)
Raitt, W. J. (Utah State Univ. Logan, UT, United States)
Denig, W. F. (Utah State University of Agriculture and Applied Science, Logan, UT, United States)
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1982
Subject Category
Plasma Physics
Meeting Information
Meeting: Artificial particle beams in space plasma studies; Advanced Research Institute