Energy balance in a low pressure capacitive discharge driven by a double-saddle antenna

A radio frequency (rf) plasma is created at low pressure (∼1 mTorr) in the source tube of a “helicon” excited diffusion system in the absence of a dc magnetic field. The coupling is capacitive for the low source power of 160 W at 13.56 MHz considered here. Temperature measurements of the glass source tube yield a plasma power deposition of ∼35 W. The plasma parameters (density, potential, electron temperature) were measured using a retarding field energy analyzer. An analytical model based on the measuredplasma parameters and on additional external parameters measured in the matching box (rf voltages and phase, rf current) is developed. The model takes into account the geometry of the double saddle rf antenna. It is found that the inside of the glass wall adjacent to the antenna wire charges negatively. Ion acceleration into the glass along the antenna and fast electrons escaping the plasma account for most of the power deposition to the walls (∼16.8 W). Secondary electrons liberated by ions impinging onto the glass along the antenna contribute a power of ∼4.6 W. Adding the power of 3.7 W deposited to the part of the tube not affected by the antenna, the total power deposition responsible for the temperature rise of the tube is found to be about 25 W. The model shows that the power deposition is strongly nonuniform along the tube as a result of the antenna geometry. An estimate of the power deposited into the electrons by stochastic heating yields ∼1.4 W, compared to an estimate of 5.8 W for the measured power loss from electrons

Xenon ion beam characterization in a helicon double layer thruster

A current-free electric double layer is created in a helicon double layer thruster operating with xenon and compared to a recently developed theory. The Xe⁺ion beam formed by acceleration through the potential drop of the double layer is characterized radially using an electrostatic ion energy analyzer. For operating conditions of 500W rf power, 0.07mTorr gas pressure, and a maximum magnetic field of 125G, the measuredbeamvelocity is about 6kms⁻¹, the beam area is about 150cm², and the measuredbeam divergence is less than 6°

Grounded radio-frequency electrodes in contact with high density plasmas

An analytical model is developed of an asymmetric electrode system immersed in a plasma, consisting of two dc-grounded electrodes, where the smaller one is biased at 13.56MHz. The model is compared with a set of experiments performed in a high density low pressure plasma source (an electron cyclotron resonance source) where a second electrode is immersed into the plasma and powered by radio frequency. Excellent agreement is obtained between the analytical model and the experimental results. It is found that the time average plasma potential and the direct current(dc) flowing in the system during steady state are strongly dependent on both the rf voltage (or power) and the area ratio between the larger and smaller electrodes. For area ratios larger than 80, the dc current is large and the plasma potential is constant with respect to the applied rf voltage. For area ratios smaller than 80 but larger than unity, the plasma potential increases linearly with the applied rf voltage, and the dc current is reduced compared to the large area ratio case

Experiments and theory of an upstream ionization instability excited by an accelerated electron beam through a current-free double layer

A low-frequency instability varying from 10 to 20kHz has been discovered in the presence of a current-free double layer (DL) in a low-pressure expanding helicon plasma. The instability is observed using various electrostatic probes, such as Langmuir probes floating or biased to ion saturation and emissive probes measuring the plasma potential. A retarding field energy analyzer measuring the ion energy distribution function downstream of the double layer is used together with the LP to simultaneously observe the DL and the instability, confirming their coexistence. The frequency of the instability decreases with increasing neutral pressure, increases with increasing magnetic field in the source and increases with increasing rf power. A theory for an upstream ionizationinstability has been developed, in which electrons accelerated through the DL increase the ionization upstream and are responsible for the observed instability. The theory is in good agreement with the experimental results and shows that the frequency increases with the potential drop of the double layer and with decreasing chamber radius

Orbit Selection for the Proposed Lynx Observatory Mission

The Advanced Concepts Office design team performed several analyses and trades in support of orbit selection for the proposed Lynx mission, an x-ray observatory being submitted to the Astro2020 Decadal Survey. Though the descriptions in this Technical Memorandum (TM) focus on the Lynx mission, the approach and process for selecting the final orbit is applicable to a variety of proposed science and exploration missions. To select the best orbit for the Lynx science, mission designers assembled a team of subsystem and discipline experts, in addition to mission analysts, to evaluate several candidate orbits. These discipline experts included members of the science and instrument team, power and avionics, thermal, propulsion, and environments. The goal was to clearly show the benefits and weaknesses of each orbit in the trade space and provide sound justification for the final selection. Discipline experts conducted trades and evaluated the results using a variety of methods including engineering judgement, rough estimates, and detailed calculations, and rolled the results into a final grade using a weighted grading method. The orbit options could then be ranked. The principal investigator (PI) for the mission, along with the science team, was given the task of final orbit selection. The result of the trades indicated that a halo orbit about the second Sun-Earth Lagrange point (SE-L2), similar to the planned orbit for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), was the best choice for the Lynx mission. Details of how the team arrived at this selection are below

Signal modeling of high-purity Ge detectors with a small read-out electrode and application to neutrinoless double beta decay search in Ge-76

The GERDA experiment searches for the neutrinoless double beta decay of Ge-76 using high-purity germanium detectors enriched in Ge-76. The analysis of the signal time structure provides a powerful tool to identify neutrinoless double beta decay events and to discriminate them from gamma-ray induced backgrounds. Enhanced pulse shape discrimination capabilities of "Broad Energy Germanium" detectors with a small read-out electrode have been recently reported. This paper describes the full simulation of the response of such a detector, including the Monte Carlo modeling of radiation interaction and subsequent signal shape calculation. A pulse shape discrimination method based on the ratio between the maximum current signal amplitude and the event energy applied to the simulated data shows quantitative agreement with the experimental data acquired with calibration sources. The simulation has been used to study the survival probabilities of the decays which occur inside the detector volume and are difficult to assess experimentally. Such internal decay events are produced by the cosmogenic radio-isotopes Ge-68 and Co-60 and the neutrinoless double beta decay of Ge-76. Fixing the experimental acceptance of the double escape peak of the 2.614 MeV photon to 90%, the estimated survival probabilities at Qbb = 2.039 MeV are (86+-3)% for Ge-76 neutrinoless double beta decays, (4.5+-0.3)% for the Ge-68 daughter Ga-68, and (0.9+0.4-0.2)% for Co-60 decays.Comment: 27 pages, 17 figures. v2: fixed typos and references. Submitted to JINS

Solid polymer fuel cell synthesis by low pressure plasmas: a short review

In this review, we report on the use of low pressure plasmas for elaborating materials at the heart of solid polymer fuel cells (SPFC), especially electrodes and the membrane electrolyte. Electrodes are formed using plasma sputtering techniques while the ion conducting membranes are built up using plasma polymerization. Fuel cell performance will be improved by these approaches. The electrode catalyst profile is optimized while membrane working temperature is increased and methanol crossover is lowered compared to conventional PEM fuel cells.We gratefully thank GdR 2479 PACEM, Université d'Orléans, SPI-CNRS, ACI ECD 2004 (Ministry of Research) for grants and constant support

Measurement of the half-life of the T=12\frac{1}{2} mirror decay of 19^{19}Ne and its implication on physics beyond the standard model

The $\frac{1}{2}^+ \rightarrow \frac{1}{2}^+$ superallowed mixed mirror decay of $^{19}$Ne to $^{19}$F is excellently suited for high precision studies of the weak interaction. However, there is some disagreement on the value of the half-life. In a new measurement we have determined this quantity to be $T_{1/2}$ = $17.2832 \pm 0.0051_{(stat)}$ $\pm 0.0066_{(sys)}$ s, which differs from the previous world average by 3 standard deviations. The impact of this measurement on limits for physics beyond the standard model such as the presence of tensor currents is discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl