Determination of Plasma Electron Temperature from the Reversal of Radial Ambipolar Electric Field in a Longitudinal Magnetic Field

Abstract

Abstract When a longitudinal magnetic field is superimposed to a low pressure plasma, reversal of the radial ambipolar electric field takes place at a definite magnetic field Br. From the Br-values electron temperatures Te in the plasma can be found, when classical magnetic field diffusion exists. In the negative H2-and He-glow plasmas with superimposed longitudinal magnetic field, electron temperatures have been measured on the one hand by the method of electric field reversal and on the other hand with Langmuir probes. There is a fairly good agreement between the Te-values obtained by both methods.