Abstract
Results are presented from a basic heat transport experiment using a magnetized electron temperature filament that behaves as a thermal resonator. A small, crystal cathode injects low-energy electrons along the magnetic field into the afterglow of a large preexisting plasma forming a hot electron filament embedded in a colder plasma. A series of low amplitude, sinusoidal perturbations are added to the cathode discharge bias that create an oscillating heat source capable of driving thermal waves. Langmuir probe measurements demonstrate driven thermal oscillations and allow for the determination of the amplitude and parallel phase velocity of the thermal waves over a range of driver frequencies. The results conclusively show the presence of a thermal resonance and are used to verify the parallel thermal wave dispersion relation based on classical transport theory. A nonlinear transport code is used to verify the analysis procedure. This technique provides an alternative measure of the density normalized thermal conductivity, independent of the electron temperature.
- Received 26 July 2018
- Corrected 10 January 2019
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.98.051202
©2018 American Physical Society
Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)
Corrections
10 January 2019
Correction: The previously published Figure 4 contained inconsistent symbols and has been replaced.