PROBE THEORY IN A DENSE PLASMA
Abstract
A dense plasma is defined as one in which the effective mean free path of one particle component is small in comparison with the probe dimensions; thus Langmuir's theory is not applicable in such a plasma. The presence of the probe causes marked changes of density and potential distributions in the probe environment. These effects were calculated for insulated probes of various geometries. An exact solution is given for a concentric cylindrical probe. For more general geometries, an appropriate approximation procedure, the composition method, was developed from variational principles. The effect of probe disturbances on the measurements can be accounted for in terms of an effective probe position and a potential correction. Introduction of the probe also causes changes in the eigenvalue and electron temperature. The results allow one to unfold experimental data to find the true plasma qualities. Consideration of the inertia-limited region shows that Bohm's criterion is not suitable to judge either the stability or stationarity of the sheath. A stationary inertia-limited region can exist only under certain restricted circumstances. (auth)
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- University of California, Berkeley, CA (US). Lawrence Radiation Laboratory
- Sponsoring Org.:
- US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 4823626
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-10128
- NSA Number:
- NSA-16-026405
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Technical Report
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-62
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- PHYSICS; CHARGED PARTICLES; CONFIGURATION; CROSS SECTIONS; CYLINDERS; DENSITY; DISTURBANCES; ELECTRIC POTENTIAL; ELECTRONS; ERRORS; GRAVITATION; INTERACTIONS; LAYERS; MEAN FREE PATH; PLASMA; PROBES; STABILITY; TEMPERATURE; VARIATIONAL METHOD
Citation Formats
Ecker, G, Masterson, K S, and McClure, J J. PROBE THEORY IN A DENSE PLASMA. United States: N. p., 1962.
Web. doi:10.2172/4823626.
Ecker, G, Masterson, K S, & McClure, J J. PROBE THEORY IN A DENSE PLASMA. United States. doi:10.2172/4823626.
Ecker, G, Masterson, K S, and McClure, J J. Wed .
"PROBE THEORY IN A DENSE PLASMA". United States.
doi:10.2172/4823626. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/4823626.
@article{osti_4823626,
title = {PROBE THEORY IN A DENSE PLASMA},
author = {Ecker, G and Masterson, K S and McClure, J J},
abstractNote = {A dense plasma is defined as one in which the effective mean free path of one particle component is small in comparison with the probe dimensions; thus Langmuir's theory is not applicable in such a plasma. The presence of the probe causes marked changes of density and potential distributions in the probe environment. These effects were calculated for insulated probes of various geometries. An exact solution is given for a concentric cylindrical probe. For more general geometries, an appropriate approximation procedure, the composition method, was developed from variational principles. The effect of probe disturbances on the measurements can be accounted for in terms of an effective probe position and a potential correction. Introduction of the probe also causes changes in the eigenvalue and electron temperature. The results allow one to unfold experimental data to find the true plasma qualities. Consideration of the inertia-limited region shows that Bohm's criterion is not suitable to judge either the stability or stationarity of the sheath. A stationary inertia-limited region can exist only under certain restricted circumstances. (auth)},
doi = {10.2172/4823626},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Mar 21 00:00:00 EST 1962},
month = {Wed Mar 21 00:00:00 EST 1962}
}