The Effect of Space Potential on Radio-Frequency Plugging of Particles in an Open-Ended Magnetic Trap

The effect of space potential on rf plugging of ion loss is studied experimentally: The ambipolar field produced by the difference of the plugging efficiencies between electrons and ions acts to reduce the electron loss and to increase the ion loss. The potential produced by the rf field and the space potential can be therefore determined from the measurements of ion and electron losses. The potential thus determined agrees with the theoretical predictions based on the collective behavior of a plasma.