Laboratory observations of electron temperature in the wake of a sphere in a streaming plasma

Abstract

A parametric study was performed of electron temperature variation in the wake of a conducting sphere in a streaming plasma. The flow conditions were varied as follows: the ambient electron temperatures in the range 850-2450 K; the ambient electron densities in the range 5 x 104-7 x 105/cm3; and body potentials relative to plasma potential in the range of + 1.7 to -2.8 V for an ion beam energy of ~4 eV. Electron temperature enhancements were observed which ranged up to 200 per cent above ambient in the nearest proximity of the body surface. The magnitude of the enhancement depends upon the ambient density, temperature and body potential.