Electron Saturation Current on a Cylindrical Probe in a Magnetized Rarefied Plasma Flow

• Published in: High temperature Vol. 60; no. 1; pp. 1 - 7
• Main Authors: Shuvalov, V. A., Kuchugurnyi, Yu. P., Kochubei, G. S., Nosikov, S. V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01.02.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Atoms and Molecules in Strong Fields; Classical and Continuum Physics; Electrons; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Larmor radius; Laser Matter Interaction; Magnetic fields; Magnetic induction; Materials Science; Parameters; Physical Chemistry; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Plasma Investigations; Rarefied plasmas; Saturation
• ISSN: 0018-151X; 1608-3156
• DOI: 10.1134/S0018151X22010230

A procedure for diagnosing a magnetized rarefied plasma using the electron saturation current on a cylindrical electric probe is developed. Approximate formulas and dependences of the electron saturation current on the angle between the probe axis and the external magnetic field induction vector and on the scale parameters of the probe current collection (the probe and near-electrode layer radii and the Larmor radius of plasma electrons) are obtained. It is shown that, at angles greater than 65°, the electron current on a cylindrical probe in a magnetized plasma is equal to the electron saturation current in the zero external magnetic field. The presented formulas and dependences make it possible to determine the parameters of electrons in a magnetized rarefied plasma flow using two output signals: the probe current and the probe potential.