Generation of a Plasma Bunch in a Multichannel Injector of a Pulsed Plasma Accelerator

Abstract

This work presents experimental studies of the plasma bunch formation in an injector, which is the initial section of a coaxial accelerator. Design solutions, experimental setup, and measurement results are described. The design features of the injector include the controlled supply of the working gas through electrodynamic valves uniformly installed around the circumference of an outer electrode, a profiled inner electrode, and a solenoid located outside the injector. The diagnostic system included measuring currents and voltages in the discharge circuit and the solenoid circuit; high-speed video recording; measuring plasma parameters using spectral methods and a triple Langmuir probe. Video frames of the plasma bunch formation, results of current and voltage measurements, electron temperature and density are presented; the influence of an external magnetic field on processes in the injector is considered.