group
What campus are you from?
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Rafael Larsen Zarzosa, Junior
Lead Presenter's Name
Rafael Larsen Zarzosa
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Byonghoon Seo
Abstract
Understanding plasma behavior requires accurate measurement of electrical properties, such as the floating potential and plasma potential; the natural electric potential a conductive object acquires when immersed in plasma. This project, conducted in the Space and Atmospheric Instrumentation Laboratory (SAIL) at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, focuses on developing a diagnostic system to measure the floating-potential distribution across the plasma jet generated in the laboratory’s plasma chamber. A Floating Potential Probe Array (FPPA) has been developed to capture these spatial variations. To support this measurement, a high-voltage measurement circuit is currently being developed to safely scale and condition the plasma potential signals for data acquisition and analysis. Once completed, the circuit is designed to attenuate and isolate high-voltage plasma signals, ensuring accurate potential measurements while protecting diagnostic equipment. This ongoing work aims to enhance the laboratory’s diagnostic capabilities and to deepen understanding of plasma behavior, including magnetohydrodynamic instability-driven magnetic reconnection, in controlled experimental environments.
Did this research project receive funding support from the Office of Undergraduate Research.
No
Development of a Floating Potential Probe System for Plasma Potential Diagnostics in the SAIL Plasma Jet Experiment
Understanding plasma behavior requires accurate measurement of electrical properties, such as the floating potential and plasma potential; the natural electric potential a conductive object acquires when immersed in plasma. This project, conducted in the Space and Atmospheric Instrumentation Laboratory (SAIL) at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, focuses on developing a diagnostic system to measure the floating-potential distribution across the plasma jet generated in the laboratory’s plasma chamber. A Floating Potential Probe Array (FPPA) has been developed to capture these spatial variations. To support this measurement, a high-voltage measurement circuit is currently being developed to safely scale and condition the plasma potential signals for data acquisition and analysis. Once completed, the circuit is designed to attenuate and isolate high-voltage plasma signals, ensuring accurate potential measurements while protecting diagnostic equipment. This ongoing work aims to enhance the laboratory’s diagnostic capabilities and to deepen understanding of plasma behavior, including magnetohydrodynamic instability-driven magnetic reconnection, in controlled experimental environments.