Real-Time Density Control of a Plasma Source Used for Simulating Low-Earth-Orbit Plasma Environment

We developed a variable-output-aperture, laboratory plasma source to enable real-time plasma density control with minimal effect on other plasma properties. The source is capable of producing a low-Earth-orbit-type plasma with electron energies of approximately 0.1-0.7 eV and streaming ion energies of approximately 2-4 eV. The plasma density can be adjusted over two orders of magnitude, thus repre...