title: The HelCat dual-source plasma device.
abstract: The HelCat (Helicon-Cathode) device has been constructed to support a broad range of basic plasma science experiments relevant to the areas of solar physics, laboratory astrophysics, plasma nonlinear dynamics, and turbulence. These research topics require a relatively large plasma source capable of operating over a broad region of parameter space with a plasma duration up to at least several milliseconds. To achieve these parameters a novel dual-source system was developed utilizing both helicon and thermionic cathode sources. Plasma parameters of n(e) approximately 0.5-50 x 10(18) m(-3) and T(e) approximately 3-12 eV allow access to a wide range of collisionalities important to the research. The HelCat device and initial characterization of plasma behavior during dual-source operation are described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA.
authors.forename: Alan G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Lynn
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gilmore
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.forename: Janis
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herrea
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Will
authors.forename: Shuangwei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Lincan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang