Thermal excitation of Trivelpiece-Gould modes in a pure electron plasma

Abstract

Thermally excited plasma modes are observed in trapped, near-thermal-equilibrium pure electron plasmas over a temperature range of 0.05 < T < 5 eV. The measured thermal emission spectra together with a separate measurement of the wave absorption coefficient uniquely determines the temperature. Alternately, kinetic theory including the antenna geometry and the measured mode damping (i.e. spectral width) gives the plasma impedance, obviating the reflection measurement. This non-destructive temperature diagnostic agrees well with standard diagnostics, and may be useful for expensive species such as anti-matter.

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