Optimization of an X-band Interferometer for Plasma Diagnostics†

1 June 1967

journal article
research article
Published by Taylor & Francis in International Journal of Electronics

Vol. 22 (6) , 581-585
https://doi.org/10.1080/00207216708937992

Abstract

A 9 GHZ (3 cm) microwave free-space interferometer for measuring electron density decay over the range 2 × 10¹¹−10¹⁰ cm⁻³ in a pulsed discharge afterglow is described. By using initial 90° unbalancing (instead of the conventional 180° balance) considerable improvement in sensitivity was obtained. In addition, amplitude modulation of the microwave probing signal enabled instantaneous power fluctuations to be recorded accurately as a function of time during the afterglow. Significant errors are shown to arise if the effects-of finite plasma boundaries are ignored.

Keywords

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:

Laser and microwave interferometric study of recombination in a highly ionised helium plasma
Electronics Letters, 1966
Determination of Plasma Properties by Free-Space Microwave Techniques
Journal of Applied Physics, 1962