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Low-frequency sheath admittance of a sphere in a collisionless plasma

Journal Article · · Radio Sci.; (United States)
The low-frequency sheath admittance of a spherical electrode immersed in a collisionless nonflowing Maxwellian plasma with zero magnetic field is determined for nondimensional electrode dc bias potentials between -25 and 25, and the case of small signal amplitude is primarily considered. For an ion to electron temperature ratio of 1, the curves of capacitance versus dc bias voltage are symmetric about space potential, and for values between 0 and 1, the capacitance has a discontinuous value at space potential. These curves have a triple-peak structure for electrode radius to Debye length ratios (which were varied between 0 and 200) near 50, and a double-peak structure for larger values. Various plasma-diagnostics applications are discussed, and it is suggested that comparison of experimental and theoretical capacitance curves may provide a method for measuring probe surface contamination. 30 references.
Research Organization:
Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston; York Univ., Toronto
OSTI ID:
5223984
Journal Information:
Radio Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: Radio Sci.; (United States) Vol. 21; ISSN RASCA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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