A new pure ion plasma device with laser induced fluorescence diagnostic

We describe a new apparatus for magnetic confinement of a pure ion plasma, with laser diagnostics to measure test particle transport across the magnetic field. In addition to the axisymmetric trapping potential, rotating electrostatic wall perturbation is used to counteract the plasma loss processes, giving steady-state ion confinement for weeks. Electronic spin polarization of the ion ground states is used to label the test particles; this spin orientation is controlled by direct optical pumping. The laser-induced fluorescence ~LIF! technique is used to nondestructively measure the ion velocity distribution; and an absolute calibration of the charge density is obtained from the LIF measurement of the plasma rotation velocity. Two new technological improvements compatible with ultrahigh vacuum systems have been used: a semirigid Teflon insulated coaxial cable has low microphonic noise, and an antireflective coating is used to reduce reflection of ultraviolet light inside the vacuum chamber. © 1997 American Institute of Physics. @S0034-6748~97!05206-4#