Wide Band Electrostatic Probes for Use in Tenuous Plasmas

J. C. Sprott
Physics Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
(Received 28 January 1966 and in final form, 8 March 1966)

ABSTRACT

A derivation is given for the resistance of the sheath surrounding a floating probe and the corresponding limitation to the frequency response. The bandwidth is increased by using probes with built-in attenuators which measure fluctuations in floating potential, electric field, and ion saturation current at frequencies up to 40 MHz with plasma densities as low as 10^9 /cc.

Ref: J. C. Sprott, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 37, 897-900 (1966)

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