Externally Heated Hollow Cathode Arc Plasma Source for Experiments in Plasma Wakefield Acceleration

Ryan Roussel; Gerard Andonian; Claire Hansel; Gerard Lawler; Walter Lynn; Nathan Majernik; River Robles; Kunal Sanwalka; Eric Wisniewski; James Rosenzweig

doi:10.3390/instruments3030048

Instruments (Sep 2019)

Externally Heated Hollow Cathode Arc Plasma Source for Experiments in Plasma Wakefield Acceleration

Ryan Roussel,
Gerard Andonian,
Claire Hansel,
Gerard Lawler,
Walter Lynn,
Nathan Majernik,
River Robles,
Kunal Sanwalka,
Eric Wisniewski,
James Rosenzweig

Affiliations

Ryan Roussel: Particle Beam Physics Laboratory, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Gerard Andonian: Particle Beam Physics Laboratory, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Claire Hansel: Particle Beam Physics Laboratory, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Gerard Lawler: Particle Beam Physics Laboratory, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Walter Lynn: Particle Beam Physics Laboratory, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Nathan Majernik: Particle Beam Physics Laboratory, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
River Robles: Particle Beam Physics Laboratory, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Kunal Sanwalka: Particle Beam Physics Laboratory, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Eric Wisniewski: Argonne Wakefield Accelerator, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
James Rosenzweig: Particle Beam Physics Laboratory, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments3030048
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 3, no. 3
p. 48

Abstract

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An externally heated, hollow cathode arc source was recommissioned at UCLA for use in experiments to drive plasma wakefields with shaped beams at the Argonne Wakefield Accelerator. The hollow cathode arc source provides a robust plasma column with a density in the 10 13 − 10 14 cm − 3 range while external heating of the cathode allows the plasma arc regime to be accessed with applied voltages down to 20 V. Overall source operating principals are described, along with time-resolved plasma current measurements and plasma density characterization with the use of a triple Langumir probe. The results show that relevant plasma densities that match facility beam parameters are readily achievable.

Published in Instruments

ISSN: 2410-390X (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Physics: Nuclear and particle physics. Atomic energy. Radioactivity
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/instruments

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