Probe diagnostics of strongly ionized inert-gas plasmas at atmospheric pressure

The technique of probe measurements (experiment and theory) is applied in a dense, strongly ionized inert-gas plasma at atmospheric pressure. The measurements are performed in a high-current (250–550 A) free-burning argon arc with a thermionic cathode. As a control technique we used spectroscopic measurements. Comparison of calculation with experiment reveals good agreement. The possibility of determining the plasma potential from the measured floating-probe potential is demonstrated. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 68, 51–55 (June 1998)