Peter VanderVelden with Dr. Benjamin W. Longmeir

Department of Engineering Physics, UW-Madison

Hollow cathodes are one of the numerous ways to generate plasma. Unfortunately their lifetime is cut down by cathode contamination, cathode deterioration, and barium diffusion rates. Since RF generation has an advantage in applications that require longer operation, such as ion propulsion for deep space missions, data on various plasma parameters are very useful.

This experiment used  an RF antenna made out of 1/4" water cooled copper pipe and a Langmuir probe to further measure and characterize a non ambipolar electron source for space applications. The effects of the new Helicon antenna were also characterized.