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Ignition of beam plasma discharge in the electron beam experiment in space
Author(s) -
Sasaki S.,
Kawashima N.,
Kuriki K.,
Yanagisawa M.,
Obayashi T.,
Roberts W. T.,
Reasoner D. L.,
Taylor W. W. L.,
Williamson P. R.,
Banks P. M.,
Burch J. L.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl012i010p00647
Subject(s) - plasma , beam (structure) , atomic physics , ignition system , physics , cathode ray , materials science , electron , optics , nuclear physics , thermodynamics
An ignition of Beam Plasma Discharge (BPD) in space was observed in a neutral gas‐electron beam interaction experiment by Space Shuttle/Spacelab‐1 in 1983. An electron beam of 8 kV 100 mA was injected into a high dense nitrogen gas cloud of 10 23 molecules which was released during 100 msec from the orbiter. The appearence of the beam and its surroundings observed by a low‐light‐level TV camera showed a local ignition of the beam plasma discharge in the gas cloud. The enhanced plasma production, generation of auroral emission and associated wave emission were also detected by onboard diagnostic instruments.