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Electron Velocity Distribution in a
Non-neutral Plasma This research was meant to characterize the energy distribution of the plasma used in the Occidental trap and determine if the electrons injected into the solenoid had an energy component perpendicular to the solenoid axis. This experiment is motivated by previous research conducted at UCSD, which theorized that small variations in the axial magnetic field would produce significant variations in plasma transport. The previous attempts to replicate this result with the Occidental trap have yielded a null result, however these variations are dependent upon a perpendicular energy component within the plasma. Thus the null result from the experiments could be explained by a negligible perpendicular energy component in this research. The magnetic mirror phenomenon was utilized to test for these perpendicular energies; however the application of a 25% increase in the magnetic field showed no variations in the escape voltage. This suggests the electrons are injected with velocities almost entirely parallel to the solenoid axis. Support provided by: Howard Hughes Medical Institute Undergraduate Science Education Grant |
