The plasma contacting process is described and experiments are discussed that suggest the key role that cold ions play in establishing a low impedance plasma bridge that can conduct current in either direction between a contactor electrode and a dilute plasma. A ring cusp contactor is shown to provide from 1000-mA of electron emission to 500-mA of electron collection as its bias relative to a simulated space plasma is varied through an 80-v range.


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    Title :

    Plasma contactor design for electrodynamic tether applications


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    1988-01-01



    Type of media :

    Miscellaneous


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English


    Keywords :


    Plasma contactor design for electrodynamic tether applications

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