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Building Langmuir Probes and Emissive Probes for Plasma Potential Measurements in Low Pressure, Low Temperature Plasmas
Published on: May 25, 2021
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Error analysis of multi-needle Langmuir probe measurement technique
Aroh Barjatya1, William Merritt1
1Physical Sciences Department, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida 32114, USA.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|May 3, 2018
Summary
Multi-needle Langmuir probes show promise for measuring electron density but current analysis methods can cause significant errors. A simple adjustment can reduce these errors by over 80%.
Area of Science:
- Space physics
- Plasma diagnostics
Background:
- Multi-needle Langmuir probes (MNLPs) are emerging instruments for in-situ plasma measurements.
- MNLPs have been utilized on sounding rockets and are planned for the QB50 CubeSat mission.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fundamentally analyze data processing techniques for MNLPs.
- To identify sources of error in deriving absolute electron density from MNLP data.
- To propose a method for improving the accuracy of electron density measurements.
Main Methods:
- Fundamental analysis of data processing algorithms for MNLP.
- Calculation of potential errors in absolute electron density derivation.
- Development and testing of a data analysis adjustment.
Main Results:
- Current data analysis procedures for MNLPs can lead to substantial errors, potentially exceeding 50% in absolute electron density measurements.
- A straightforward adjustment to the data analysis process can decrease these errors by a factor of five or more.
Conclusions:
- While MNLP technology is promising for space plasma research, current data analysis requires refinement.
- The proposed data analysis adjustment offers a significant improvement in measurement accuracy for MNLPs.
- This work contributes to more reliable space plasma environment characterization using MNLP data.
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