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Temporal study of wake formation behind a conducting bodyThe temporal evolution of the wake of a conducting body is studied experimentally in a pulsed plasma device. Three-dimensional measurements of the plasma potential, density, particle energy distribution, and ion currents are measured throughout the near- and mid-wake regions during the wake formation. It is found that the potential behind the conducting body is initially negative. This negative potential is caused by the higher mobility of the electrons, allowing them to flow into the ion free wake region. The negative potential in the wake region induces an electric field that pulls ions into the region behind the conducting body. However, the dominant factor in determining the length of the near wake is the thermal energy spread of the ions. At later times, as the sheath forms around the conducting body, ions are deflected by the potential gradient in the sheath region. This deflection, in addition to the thermal energy spread of the ions, determines the length of the near wake.
Document ID
19910062763
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Meassick, S.
(Northeastern Univ. Boston, MA, United States)
Chan, C.
(Northeastern Univ. Boston, MA, United States)
Qian, Y.
(Northeastern Univ. Boston, MA, United States)
Sroda, T.
(Northeastern Univ. Boston, MA, United States)
Azar, T.
(Northeastern University Boston, MA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 1991
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 96
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Plasma Physics
Accession Number
91A47386
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-1572
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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