Abstract
To establish a completely electrodeless plasma thruster, we have been studying electromagnetic acceleration methods proposed and estimating plasma performance by the use of various diagnostics. This scheme employs a high-density (〜 10^<13> cm^<-3>) helicon plasma accelerated by the Lorentz force, which is produced by some acceleration methods. To prove its principle, Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) system has been developed, which is a powerful tool for plasma diagnostics, due to a non-invasive method with a high spatial resolution. It can deduce velocity distribution functions of any particles (ions, atoms and molecules). Here, we report details of new 2D LIF system for ions and argon neutral particles of argon, and preliminary experimental results.
