No abstract

The local electron temperature measurements with the double electric probe in the compression zone are presented. Electric probes make it possible to measure the electron temperature with a reasonably good spatial resolution. Double electric probe application for electron temperature measurements in the dense self-compressed plasma stream is discussed. We have shown experimentally that the electric probe operates in a diffusion regime.

The paper is devoted to experimental measurements and analysis of parameters of the plasma streams generated by magnetoplasma compressor (MPC) upgraded with an external axial magnetic field. Influence of the external axial magnetic field of 0.24 T on helium plasma streams (P=2 Torr) has been studied. The measurements of average electron density distributions were performedboth with and without an external axial B-field. Distributions of plasma electron density Ne (L) were measured with spectroscopy in the plasma stream and in the compression zone using Stark broadening of He I and He II spectral lines. Plasma-surface interaction processes were also analyzed.

The synergistic effects of tungsten exposure to combined hydrogen and helium particle fluxes as well as transient thermal loads need to be extensively studied for implementation of fusion reactor project. The mixture of hydrogen and helium was used as the working gas for plasma stream generation within the QSPA-M accelerator. The parameters of the mixed hydrogen and helium plasma were similar to those of pure hydrogen plasma generated in QSPA-M. It was shown that the small addition of helium (5 %) to hydrogen does not strongly influence plasma surface interaction. The influence of the external magnetic field on plasma surface interaction is also discussed.