Magnetosheath Effects on Cylindrical Langmuir Probes. Revision
Abstract
The response of cylindrical Langmuir probes in magnetoplasmas is studied from a perspective which focuses on the relative magnitudes of Larmor radius and sheath size. The approach results in a classification for magnetic field effects which involves not only the magnetic field strength but also the plasma parameters of density, temperature, and the applied probe potential. We specifically show that a 0.25 G field can have similar effects on the current collection properties of the probe in an ionospheric plasma N sub e approx. = 1, 000,000/cu cm. as a 30 kG field would have in a hot, dense laboratory plasma N sub e approx. = 10 to the 15th power/cu. cm. The classifications are found to agree with new experimental results collected in an ionospheric plasma. The data also show: the effects of probe orientation on electron current collection from magnetoplasmas; that these effects can be important even when the electron Larmor radius is larger than the radius of the probe; and that substantial magnetic field effects occur when the probe's sheath is comparable to or greater than the Larmor radius.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 23, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA077043
Entities
People
- Edward P. Szuszczewicz
- Peter Z. Takacs
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory