Thesis (M. Sc.)--York University, 2000. Graduate Programme in Physics and Astronomy. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-121). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pMQ56161.

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It has been shown in previous studies that at 110 km altitude, the electron temperature can be quite large in the presence of strong electric fields. This thesis explores the possibility of deviations from the normal trends in the high latitude E-region electron heating in reaction to strong electric fields. The study is based on data from the EISCAT Incoherent Scatter Radar during the International Polar Year. Out of a large number of possibilities (the radar operated essentially on a continuous basis for a year) only seven events proved to have sufficiently strong electric fields and large enough plasma densities to be characterized as ‘good heating events’. The electron temperature enhancements in these events, at 110 km, were several hundred K above from the background temperature and correlated well with ion temperature at 150 km altitude. The results for these good events agreed very well with past studies, aside from the smaller starting temperatures which were likely connected to the quiet solar conditions at the time. This stated, a different type of E region electron heating event was identified. In that case the E region electron densities were small (night-time conditions free of electron precipitation) and the electron temperatures reached a maximum near 150 km altitude. In those events the electron temperature enhancements extended down to the lower altitudes, introducing small, but detectable, electron temperature enhancements all the way down to 105 km altitude. .

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2007. Thesis (Ph. D.)--Université Paul Sabatier, 2007. / Thesis completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a joint Ph. D. from the University of Texas at Austin and the Université Paul Sabatier. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

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Effects of a magnetic field on the double-probe technique are studied experimentally by means of symmetric floating computer controlled fast double probes in low and intermediate pressure plasmas. In addition, the effects of the magnetic field on the electron temperature, electron density, and electric field have been investigated. As it is expected, when there is no magnetic field, properties of the discharge plasma are best described by Langmuir theory. Whereas, when there&rsquo / s a magnetic field of sufficient strength Schottky&rsquo / s theory of ambipolar diffusion applies.

A spectroscopic diagnostic tool has been developed to determine the electron temperature and the neutral density in helium, hydrogen and argon plasmas from absolutely calibrated spectroscopic measurements. For each gas, a method of analysis which uses models specific to each species present in the plasma (neutral atom or singly ionized atom) has been defined. The experimental electron density is used as an input parameter to the models, and the absolutely calibrated spectroscopic data are processed beforehand to obtain the populations of the upper excited levels corresponding to the observed spectral lines. For helium plasmas, the electron temperature is inferred from the experimental helium ion excited level p = 4 population using a corona model, and then the neutral density is determined from the experimental helium neutral excited level populations using a collisional-radiative model for helium neutrals. For hydrogen plasmas, combinations of the electron temperature and the neutral density are determined from the experimental hydrogen neutral excited level populations using a collisional-radiative model specific to hydrogen atoms. For argon plasmas, the electron temperature is inferred from the experimental argon ion excited level populations using a collisional-radiative model for argon ions, and then the neutral density is determined from the experimental argon neutral excited level populations using a collisional-radiative model for argon neutrals. This diagnostic tool was applied to three experiments with different geometries and plasma conditions to test the validity of each data analysis method. The helium and hydrogen data analysis methods were tested and validated on helium and hydrogen plasmas produced in the VASIMR experiment, a plasma propulsion system concept. They gave electron temperatures and neutral densities that were consistent with other diagnostics and theory. The argon diagnostic tool was tested on argon plasmas produced in the VASIMR experiment, the Helimak experiment and the Helicon experiment. The electron temperature and neutral density obtained on both the Helimak and the Helicon experiments were consistent with other diagnostics and with theory, and validated the method of analysis. An impurity problem on the VASIMR experiment made it difficult for the data analysis to be validated.

Ablation controlled electrothermal (ET) plasma discharge devices consist of a small diameter capillary through which a large amount of energy is discharged. The high energy in the discharge ablates an inner sleeve material, ionizes the material, and a high energy-density plasma jet accelerates out the open end. ET devices can find applications in internal combustion engines, Tokamak fusion fueling and stabilization, hypervelocity launchers, and propulsion. The ballistic properties of an ET device are highly dependent on the propellant and ablated material. A useful noninvasive technique to characterize a propellant in these types of devices is spectroscopy. The purpose of this study is to design and conduct experiments on the ET facility called PIPE to verify results and assumptions in the ETFLOW simulation code as well as resolve data collection issues such as equipment triggering as spectrometer saturation. Experiments are carried out using an Ocean Optics LIBS2500plus high resolution spectrometer and a Photron FASTCAM SA4 high speed camera. Electron plasma temperatures are estimated using copper peaks in the UV region with the relative line intensity method, and electron plasma density is estimated by measuring the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the stark broadened H--β line at 486 nm. Electron temperatures between 0.19 eV and 0.49 eV, and electron densities between 4.68*1022 m-3 and 5.75*10²² m⁻³ were measured in the expanding plasma jet about an inch outside the source with values as expected for this region. Velocity measurements of PIPE match well with simulations at around 5333 m/s. This study concluded that the assumption that the propellant Lexan is completely dissociated is a valid assumption, and that the ETFLOW results for electron temperature, density, and bulk plasma velocity match experimental values. / Master of Science