Current Sheet Structure in an Inductive-Impulsive Plasma Accelerator

Abstract

Probe and laser light-scattering measurements of electron density have been made in the current sheet of a pulsed inductive accelerator. The discharge consists of a thin flat disk of pure je current. The only current carriers are electrons. The gas is ionized and swept up into a 4 mm thick current sheet. Ions are accelerated by an axial E field, ahead of the mass layer, produced both by electron current and negative electron pressure gradient. This field nearly vanishes at the rear of the mass layer where j x B force balances the positive electron pressure gradient.