The inductively-heated plasma generator IPG6-B at Baylor University has been established and characterized in previous years for use as a flexible experimental research facility across multiple applications. The system uses a similar plasma generator design to its twin-facilities at the University of Stuttgart (IPG6-S) and the University of Kentucky (IPG6-UKY). The similarity between these three devices offers the advantage to reproduce results and provides comparability to achieve cross-referencing and verification. Sub- and supersonic flow conditions for Mach numbers between $Ma = 0.3 - 1.4$ have been characterized for air, argon, helium and nitrogen using a pitot probe. Overall power coupling efficiency as well as specific bulk enthalpy of the flow have been determined by calorimeter measurements to be between $η= 0.05 - 0.45$ and $h_s = 5- 35$ MJ/kg respectively depending on gas type and pressure. Electron temperatures of $T_e = 1 - 2$ eV and densities $n_e = 10^{18} - 10^{20} m^{-3}$ have been measured using an electrostatic probe system. At Baylor University, laboratory experiments in the areas of astrophysics, geophysics as well as fundamental research on complex (dusty) plasmas are planned. Most recent experiments include the study of dusty plasmas and astrophysical phenomena and the interaction of charged dust with electric and magnetic fields. In this case, dust can be used as a diagnostic for such fields and can reveal essential information of the magneto-hydrodynamics in low-temperature plasmas.
Low Energy Surface Flashover for Initiation of Electric Propulsion Devices
提出了一种利用低能沿面闪络（LESF）触发电力推进系统放电的方法。LESF使用传统的沿面闪络机制，其闪络的高电流阶段的持续时间有限，低于<100-200 ns. This eliminates the damage to the LESF assembly and allows robust operation of the same assembly for >1.5*10^6次连续闪络。证明了在单个LESF事件中产生的种子等离子体的量足以触发模拟电推进系统中的放电的中等电流电弧。
