Title :
Langmuir probe characteristics in a high pressure plasma in the presence of convection and ionization
Author :
Clements, Reginald M. ; Rizvi, Syed A H ; Smy, Peter R.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Phys. & Astron., Victoria Univ., BC, Canada
fDate :
8/1/1994 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
The current to a Langmuir probe operating in a high pressure flowing plasma is calculated for the case where convection of electrons or ions into the sheath adjacent to the probe and thermal generation of electrons and ions within the sheath can both be significant factors in determining probe current. In addition to generating explicit relations for planar, spherical and cylindrical probes for the asymptotic case in which only generation need be considered, a solution is also obtained for the extensive transition between this state and the purely convective state, for which explicit solutions already exist. The theory, which enables the electron/ion density to be calculated from the probe current is applicable to both positive and negative probes
Keywords :
Langmuir probes; electron density; ion density; plasma density; plasma diagnostics; plasma pressure; plasma sheaths; plasma transport processes; Langmuir probe characteristics; asymptotic case; cylindrical probes; electron convection; electron density; explicit solutions; flowing plasma; high pressure plasma; ion convection; ion density; ionization; negative probes; planar probes; positive probes; probe current; sheath; spherical probes; thermal generation; Electrons; Extraterrestrial measurements; Plasma chemistry; Plasma density; Plasma measurements; Plasma properties; Plasma sheaths; Plasma temperature; Pressure measurement; Probes;
Journal_Title :
Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on