Shielding Lengths in Magnetospheric and Interplanetary Plasmas.
Abstract
A method is presented for estimating the characteristic shielding length of a spherical object that is immersed in a plasma when photoelectrons are being emitted by the object. In agreement with experimental evidence, the calculation reveals that shielding lengths for small probes are significantly closer to the Debye length than previously thought. These arguments are important for objects 1m or less in diameter that are in the magnetosphere beyond the plasmasphere and in interplanetary space. This method of estimation is specifically applicable to thick sheaths; previous methods have assumed that sheaths would be thin compared with the size of the shielded object. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 06, 1973
- Accession Number
- AD0760795
Entities
People
- David P. Cauffman
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation