On the interpretation of Langmuir probe data inside a spacecraft sheath

Journal Article · Fri Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Review of Scientific Instruments

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3482155· OSTI ID:22058636

Olson, J; Brenning, N ^[1]; Wahlund, J -E ^[2]; Gunell, H ^[3]

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1. Space and Plasma Physics, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Teknikringen 31, SE-10044 Stockholm (Sweden)
2. Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Box 537, SE-751 21 Uppsala (Sweden)
3. Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy, Avenue Circulaire 3, B-1180 Brussels (Belgium)

If a Langmuir probe is located inside the sheath of a negatively charged spacecraft, there is a risk that the probe characteristic is modified compared to that of a free probe in the ambient plasma. We have studied this probe-in-spacecraft-sheath problem in the parameter range of a small Langmuir probe (with radius r{sub LP}<<{lambda}{sub D}) using a modified version of the orbit motion limited (OML) probe theory. We find that the ambient electron contribution I{sub e}(U{sub LP}) to the probe characteristic is suitably analyzed in terms of three regions of applied probe potential U{sub LP}. In region I, where the probe is negatively charged (i.e., U{sub LP}U{sub 1}, there is first a transition region II in applied potential, U{sub 1}

• OSTI ID: 22058636
• Journal Information: Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 81, Issue 10; Other Information: (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0034-6748
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
DEBYE LENGTH
ELECTRONS
LANGMUIR PROBE
ORBITS
PLASMA POTENTIAL
PLASMA SHEATH
POTENTIALS
SATURN PLANET
SIMULATION
SPACE VEHICLES