Determination of ion temperature by two-probe method

Abstract
A simple method is proposed to estimate the ion temperature of collision-free plasma using a cylindrical and a spherical Langmuir probe. This method is based on the difference in the ion-temperature dependence of the ion-current collection between these probes as predicted theoretically by Laframboise. Curves necessary for the ion-temperature determination are given and are applied to a low-density xenon plasma. Agreement of the probe characteristics with Laframboise’s theory was also demonstrated.