Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 28, 2026
08:10
Building Langmuir Probes and Emissive Probes for Plasma Potential Measurements in Low Pressure, Low Temperature Plasmas
Published on: May 25, 2021
6.0K
E × B probe measurements in molecular and electronegative plasmas
D Renaud1, D Gerst1, S Mazouffre1
1ICARE, CNRS, 1C Av. de la Recherche Scientifique, 45071 Orléans, France.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|January 3, 2016
Summary
A new E × B probe effectively filters ions, identifying both positive and negative species in plasma. This diagnostic tool accurately measures ion velocity and plasma composition, even with complex molecular fragments from SF6.
Area of Science:
- Plasma Physics
- Ion Source Diagnostics
Background:
- Electronegative gases like SF6 are used in plasma propulsion.
- Diagnosing ion species in such plasmas is challenging due to molecular fragments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design, build, calibrate, and utilize a compact E × B probe.
- To characterize ion species in the PEGASES ion source using SF6.
Main Methods:
- Development of a compact E × B probe functioning as a velocity or mass filter.
- Performing measurements in the discharge and beam of the PEGASES inductively coupled radio-frequency source.
- Utilizing SF6 as the electronegative gas for experiments.
Main Results:
- The calibrated E × B probe accurately determines ion velocity and plasma composition.
- The probe successfully detects both positive and negative ions.
- SF6 plasma yields diverse positive ions, while the beam contains only F(-) and SF6(-) negative ions, matching simulations.
Conclusions:
- The E × B probe is a versatile diagnostic tool for complex ion plasmas.
- It enables precise measurement of ion velocity and composition, including negative ions.
- Experimental results with SF6 align with theoretical predictions.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Lab
790
AES is a powerful analytical technique, especially effective when used with plasma sources, producing abundant spectra in characteristic emission lines. The Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), in particular, yields superior quantitative analytical data due to its high stability, low noise, low background, and minimal interferences under optimal experimental conditions. However, newer air-operated microwave sources are emerging as promising alternatives that could be more cost-effective than...
790
01:19Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Principle
2.3K
Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) is the most widely used plasma source in atomic emission spectroscopy (AES), also known as Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The ICP source, or torch, consists of three concentric quartz tubes with argon gas flowing through them. A spark from a Tesla coil initiates the ionization of argon, generating a high-temperature plasma.
The ions and electrons produced interact with the fluctuating magnetic field created by a water-cooled...
The ions and electrons produced interact with the fluctuating magnetic field created by a water-cooled...
2.3K
01:19Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (ICP–MS): Overview
2.6K
In inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP–MS), an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) torch is used as an atomizer and ionizer. Solid samples are dissolved and volatilized before being introduced into the high-temperature argon plasma, while solution samples are nebulized and passed through the high-temperature argon plasma. Plasma dissociates the analytes and ionizes their component atoms to form a mixture of positive ions and molecular species. The positive ions are then...
2.6K
01:26Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Instrumentation
954
Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) is the common plasma source used in atomic emission spectroscopy (AES), a technique that detects and analyzes various elements in a sample. This method is often called inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES).
There are three main types of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) instruments: sequential, simultaneous multichannel, and Fourier transform instruments, with the latter being less commonly used....
There are three main types of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) instruments: sequential, simultaneous multichannel, and Fourier transform instruments, with the latter being less commonly used....
954
01:20Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Overview
4.2K
Atomic emission spectroscopy (AES) is an analytical technique used to determine the elemental composition of a sample by analyzing the light emitted from excited atoms. In AES, atoms in a sample are excited to higher energy levels by thermal energy from high-temperature sources, such as plasma, arcs, or sparks. When these excited atoms return to lower energy states, they emit light at specific wavelengths characteristic of each element. The resulting atomic emission spectrum, which consists of...
4.2K
01:22Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Instrumentation
1.5K
The instrumentation of atomic emission spectrometry (AES) involves various components, including atomization devices that convert samples into gas-phase atoms and ions. There are two main types of atomization devices: continuous and discrete atomizers. Continuous atomizers, like plasmas and flames, introduce samples in a constant stream, while discrete atomizers inject individual samples using syringes or autosamplers. The most common discrete atomizer is the electrothermal atomizer.
1.5K