Determination of plasma parameters from plane-probe characteristics in a current-carrying plasma

The authors present an approximate method of determining the temperature and the drift velocity of electrons in a current-carrying plasma. An approximate expression for the determination of plasma density is also derived. The authors consider the probe characteristics obtained by a one-sided plane probe in a plasma in which the electron distribution may be assumed to be a shifted Maxwellian. The method they propose for analysing such characteristics can be regarded as a generalization of the standard probe method for the determination of plasma parameters in a Maxwellian plasma. Application of the method is illustrated by experimental examples. A confirmation of the method is performed by comparing the results with those obtained by other techniques.