The retarding potential analyzer aboard the satellite TAIYO.

Retarding field energy analyzer for the JET plasma boundary

Retarding field analyzers ~RFAs! are essentially the only practical tool with which to measure the distribution of ion energies in the boundary plasma of magnetic fusion devices. The technique has long been attempted in such facilities with varying degrees of success, but, by virtue of the delicate nature of these material probes and the hostile environment in which they are inserted, its use h...

Retarding Potential Analyzer Design and Result Analysis for Ion Energy Distribution Measurement of the Thruster Plume in the Laboratory

Plasma plume will be produced and arrive at spacecraft when the electric thruster operates on orbit. It’s important to characterize the thruster plasma parameters because the plume has significant effects or hazards on spacecraft sub-systems and parts. Through the ground test data of the desired parameters, the major characteristics of the thruster plume will be achieved. Also it is very import...

Design of a retarding potential grid system for a neutral particle analyzer.

The ion energy distribution in a magnetically confined plasma can be inferred from charge exchange neutral particles. On the Madison Symmetric Torus (MST), deuterium neutrals are measured by the Florida A&M University compact neutral particle analyzer (CNPA) and the advanced neutral particle analyzer (ANPA). The CNPA energy range covers the bulk deuterium ions to the beginning of the fast ion t...

First Results from a Retarding Field Angle-Resolved Analyzer

Methods for Quantitative Interpretation of Retarding Field Analyzer Data∗

A great deal of Retarding Field Analyzer (RFA) data has been taken as part of the CesrTA program at Cornell. Obtaining a quantitative understanding of this data requires use of cloud simulation programs, as well as a detailed model of the RFA itself. In a drift region, the RFA can be modeled by postprocessing the output of a simulation code, and one can obtain best fit values for important simu...