Determination of plasma properties with electron drainage to the probe

Certain aspects of probe diagnostics of plasmas which are related to the electron drainage to the probe are discussed. Even small values of the drainage parameter greatly distort the second derivative of the electron current drawn by the probe. At large values of the drainage parameter, the zero of the second derivative occurs well away from the actual space potential. Also at large values of the drainage parameter, the distribution function which is being sought is proportional to the first derivative of the electron current drawn by the probe.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 3, pp. 34–39, March, 1984.