Excitation of ion acoustic waves with probes

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.861958· OSTI ID:7222818

Chen, T; Schott, L

A large cylindrical Langmuir probe (length=30 cm, diameter=1.25 mm) and a probe of similar dimensions consisting of a conductor completely enclosed in an insulator are compared as exciters of ion acoustic waves. When the potential drop across the sheath of the Langmuir probe is increased from -143 to +10 V, the ion wave amplitude increases by a factor of 40. This result can be qualitatively explained with a simple model which relates the wave amplitude to the sheath radius and to the ac sheath impedance. When large negative pulses (approximately-greater-than100 kT/sub e//e) are applied to the probes, the plasma response is similar for the biased and the insulated probe. The advantages of the insulated probe as an exciter of ion waves over ordinary probes are discussed. Ion waves with peak-to-peak amplitudes (deltan/n) approx. =0.44 can be excited with the insulated probe.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada S7N OWO
• OSTI ID: 7222818
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 20:5; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700108* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Wave Phenomena
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC PROBES
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
ION ACOUSTIC WAVES
ION WAVES
LANGMUIR FREQUENCY
LANGMUIR PROBE
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PLASMA SHEATH
PLASMA WAVES
PROBES
QUASI PARTICLES
SOLITONS