Plasma Properties & Diagnostics
Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Major
Aerospace and Electrical Engineering
Research Advisor
Rovey, Joshua L.
Advisor's Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Funding Source
Missouri NASA Space Grant Consortium
Abstract
The first objective of this project was to design and create a microwave plasma source utilizing a copper and glass waveguide. The second objective was to design and construct a retarding potential analyzer and double and single langmuir probes to measure plasma properties and diagnostics. The third objective was to analyze the data to see if there is a trend between ion number density, electron temperature, floating potential, kinetic energy, potential energy, and plasma potential for varying pressures and electromagnetic fields.
Results from the Langmuir probe data conclude that the plasma potential is greater than the floating potential and as the electromagnetic field is increased the plasma potential increases slightly and the floating potential decreased slightly. In addition, the ion number density decreases slightly and the electron temperature increases slightly with increasing electromagnetic field. Results from the retarding potential analyzer data conclude that the potential energy is centered on the plasma potential which for varying electromagnetic field turned out to be around 22-24 Volts. Furthermore, with varying pressure the potential energy was centered around 18-20 Volts.
Biography
Christopher White is a senior and plans to graduate in May 2009 with a double major in Aerospace and Electrical Engineering. Christopher is also getting a double minor in Chemistry and Mathematics. He is currently a founding father of a new fraternity on campus called Delta Sigma Phi, which he has played a big role in leadership for the Rolla chapter. Christopher is planning on continuing his education after graduation while working for Dynetics in Huntsville, Alabama.
Research Category
Engineering
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Award
Engineering poster session, Third place
Location
Upper Atrium/Hallway
Presentation Date
08 Apr 2009, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Plasma Properties & Diagnostics
Upper Atrium/Hallway
The first objective of this project was to design and create a microwave plasma source utilizing a copper and glass waveguide. The second objective was to design and construct a retarding potential analyzer and double and single langmuir probes to measure plasma properties and diagnostics. The third objective was to analyze the data to see if there is a trend between ion number density, electron temperature, floating potential, kinetic energy, potential energy, and plasma potential for varying pressures and electromagnetic fields.
Results from the Langmuir probe data conclude that the plasma potential is greater than the floating potential and as the electromagnetic field is increased the plasma potential increases slightly and the floating potential decreased slightly. In addition, the ion number density decreases slightly and the electron temperature increases slightly with increasing electromagnetic field. Results from the retarding potential analyzer data conclude that the potential energy is centered on the plasma potential which for varying electromagnetic field turned out to be around 22-24 Volts. Furthermore, with varying pressure the potential energy was centered around 18-20 Volts.
