A Review of Ion Sensitive Probes

The ion sensitive probe to be presented is an electric probe for the measurement of the ion temperature or the ion energy distribution function of a magnetized plasma. At the same time, the electron temperature and the plasma potential can also be measured. The probe was tested experimentally in a large variety of plasmas, namely, Ne = (106 −1014)/cm3, Ti, Te = (0.05 −100) eV and B = (0.1 −0.5) T. It functioned satisfactorily under the conditions where the ordinary Langmuir probes functioned well. The theory of the separate collection of ions will be presented, laying emphasis on the sheath effect, especially in a dense plasma. Experimentally obtained typical characteristics will be shown refering to critical structural parameters of the probe and corresponding plasma parameters. Results of some cross check experiments in temperature and plasma density measurements will be also reviewed.