Synchrotron Radiation Experiments with a Hot Electron Plasma

The synchrotron radiation emitted parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic axis of a “hot electron” plasma (Te = 80 keV) confined in a 50-kG magnetic mirror field has been measured in the 4−0.2mm wavelength region of the electromagnetic spectrum by means of a spectrometer system capable of determining the absolute intensity of the synchrotron radiation. The experimental spectrum agrees with the theoretical spectrum based on single-particle emission and a two-dimensional Maxwellian distribution for the plasma electrons. The electron temperature and density predicted by the measured spectrum agrees with other methods of measurement of these quantities.