Whistler Wave in Argon Plasma Movie

Rail gun Movie

From the Left- Dr. Walter Gekelman, Brian Baum, Kevin Kuns, Max Praglin, Roland Hwang, Joe Wise

Joe Wise demonstrating the need to ground the Langmuir probe to the chamber wall

Roland grounds the probe to the chamber wall

Argon Plasma

8/9/07

Kevin Kuns and Max Praglin record their data in a density experiment

Kevin records data as Max measures probe position

4/5/08

Student designed gear reduction system

Plasma generated in the Tokamak

Plasma source in Tokamak

One of four helical spirals in the Tokamak

Kevin, Max, and Bob setting up an experiment
First Electron Beam in Chamber	Side View of Electron Beam
Top View of Electron Beam

1/31/09 - Occidental College Physics Teachers' Meeting

Gabby Amy and Robin at Occidental College

Gabby  at Occidental College

Amy at Occidental College

Roland at Occidental College

Max at Occidental College

Max, Roland, Amy Gabby and Robin at Occidental College

Whistler Waves Data 8/7/09. This data represents the amplitude of the signal along a line from the wave launching antenna to the end of the machine. The distance along the line is on the horizontal axis. In general, an undamped wave has a time and space variation of the form B sin(wt + kx), where w is 2pi divided by the time period, and k is 2pi divided by the wavelength (wavelength=spatial period). From this data we can measure the wavelength to be approximately 20 cm based on the separation of the peaks along the horizontal axis. The frequency of the launched wave was 58 MHz, which we knew already, but is also apparent from the vertical axis.  So the wave fronts propagate at about 1 cm per nanosecond, or 3% of the speed of light in vacuum. Note that the bumps in the intensity seem to be due to additional wavefronts from a backward-going wave, which is probably a reflection from the far end of the machine.  The first 3 pictures are components of the magnetic field in the x, y, and z directions, and the 4th picture is simply the time variation of the launched wave, which does not depend on the position of the probe.

Whistler Waves Data 8/7/09

Whistler Waves Data 8/7/09

Whistler Waves Data 8/7/09