3D Isosurface Visualization of Electron Density and Temperature Distribution in a Magnetized Sheet Plasma Ion Source

Abstract

A 3D visualization of argon and nitrogen-argon plasma electron density (n_e) and effective temperature (T_eff) distributions were constructed using the I-V curves from Langmuir probe traces at specific discrete positions in the extraction region of a magnetized sheet plasma ion source. Argon and mixed N₂-Ar sheet plasmas are characterized using the calculation of the electron energy distribution function (EEDF). By taking the current vs. voltage reading of a single probe in 68 discrete locations of the plasma, a 3-dimensional map of the electron density and electron temperature were constructed. The map was constructed to understand the global condition of the extraction region of the source. The technique can be applied to the determination and understanding of edge plasma parameters in magnetic confinement devices.