Eur. Phys. J. D (2012) 66: 64
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2012-20542-6

Regular Article

Characterization of neutral loop discharges in the VINETA device

Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik, Wendelsteinstraße 1, 17491 Greifswald, Germany

^a e-mail: astechow@ipp.mpg.de

Received: 20 September 2011
Received in final form: 22 December 2012
Published online: 6 March 2012

Abstract

A neutral loop (NL) discharge has been implemented in the linear plasma device VINETA with three different antenna configurations. Radial profile measurements of the electron density, temperature and floating potential are performed at various neutral loop radii and compared to single particle simulations. Local density maxima are observed near the NL, for which several mechanisms have been proposed. The measured temperature profiles do not support the model of a thermal heating process, whereas the floating potential profiles corroborate the assumption of a locally enhanced induction current.