LAUSR

We developed a variable-output-aperture, laboratory plasma source to enable real-time plasma density control with minimal effect on other plasma properties. The source is capable of producing a low-Earth-orbit-type plasma with electron energies of approximately 0.1–0.7 eV and streaming ion energies of approximately 2–4 eV. The plasma density can be adjusted over two orders of magnitude, thus representing some of the natural variability of the ionosphere. In a given aperture range, the electron and ion density decreased by 73% while the average percent difference in electron and ion density was 0.3% with a standard deviation of 1.4%. The average percent difference in ion energy was 6.3% with a standard deviation of 4.3%. The variable aperture was achieved by a rotating dual-grid system.