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http://dx.doi.org/10.5140/JASS.2015.32.3.167

DC Langmuir Probe for Measurement of Space Plasma: A Brief Review  

Oyama, Koichiro (International Center for Space Weather Study and Education, Kyushu University)
Publication Information
Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences / v.32, no.3, 2015 , pp. 167-180 More about this Journal
Abstract
Herein, we discuss the in situ measurement of the electron temperature in the ionosphere/plasmasphere by means of DC Langmuir probes. Major instruments which have been reported are a conventional DC Langmuir probe, whose probe voltage is swept; a pulsed probe, which uses pulsed bias voltage; a rectification probe, which uses sinusoidal signal; and a resonance cone probe, which uses radio wave propagation. The content reviews past observations made with the instruments above. We also discuss technical factors that should be taken into account for reliable measurement, such as problems related to the contamination of electrodes and the satellite surface. Finally, we discuss research topics to be studied in the near future.
Keywords
instrumentation; electrode contamination; electron temperature; ionosphere;
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