Biennial Report 2005-2007 - Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics

190 Biennial Report 2005-075.2.3.3 Development of Surface Plasma Resonance (SPR) in thin ncDLC materialsIn order to make an investigation on the SPR effect in thin ncDLC film coated over glass prism,an experimental setup consisting of pulsed beam of He-Ne laser light and detection of light afterthe reflection from the interface of glass and thin ncDLC film was constructed. Preliminary experimentalresults indicate the presence of SPR effect in the thin ncDLC materials.NR Ray, A Varshney†, A Bal, D DasPP5.2.3.4 Set up for the determination of electrical breakdown point of Argon Gas atdifferent pressuresDevelopment of experimental setup consisting of light detection arrangement at the time of breakdownof gas and necessary electrical circuitry and data acquisition in storage oscilloscope wascarried out.NR Ray, I Das†, A Bal, D DasPP5.2.3.5 Deep space plasma propulsion experiment (XI-th plan project)Rockets burning chemical fuel are the main propulsion devices used for launching a spacecraft fromthe surface of the Earth. In deep space, plasma propulsion systems are however far more fuelefficient because they can accelerate the fuel (ions) to very high velocities. Using radio-frequencysources, a low atomic weight fuel (hydrogen or helium) can be converted into plasma and thenheated to sufficiently high energies in the presence of a magnetic field. The gyration energy of theions can then be converted into energy of linear motion under the influence of another suitablyshaped magnetic field, thereby generating the desired mechanical thrust. An important consequenceis that the entire device can have a completely electrode free design, thereby eliminatingelectrode wear and tear and hence ensuring a considerably longer lifetime. This project has beenundertaken in the XI-th plan period (scheduled to start in April, 2007) to study the physics involvedin the generation of mechanical thrust by a plasma. Preliminary design work has been undertakenin advance and is now under progress.SK Saha, AK Hui, Santwana Raychaudhuri, S Chowdhury, Janaki Mylavarapu Sita, SK Das PP