Presheath formation and area design limit satellite-based Langmuir probes  

作　　者：靳琛垚 叶孜崇 孙海岗 江堤 张炜 徐国盛 王亮 Chenyao JIN;Chi-Shung YIP;Haigang SUN;Di JIANG;Wei ZHANG;Guosheng XU;Liang WANG(Institute of Plasma Physics,Hefei Institutes of Physical Science,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Hefei 230031,People’s Republic of China;University of Science and Technology of China,Hefei 230026,People’s Republic of China)

机构地区：[1]Institute of Plasma Physics,Hefei Institutes of Physical Science,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Hefei 230031,People’s Republic of China [2]University of Science and Technology of China,Hefei 230026,People’s Republic of China

出　　处：《Plasma Science and Technology》2023年第12期1-13,共13页等离子体科学和技术（英文版）

基　　金：supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.12275305 and 12205334);the Chinese Academy of Science Hundred Youth Talent Program;China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2022M713188);the Director’s Fund of Hefei Institutes of Physical Science,Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.YZJJ2022QN19)。

摘　　要：In this article,the effect of the finite conductive surface area of a satellite on the use of satellite-based Langmuir probes is reviewed in light of the basic theory of asymmetric double Langmuir probes(ADLPs).Recent theoretical and experimental studies have discussed electron sheath/presheath formation and the electron Bohm criterion along with their implications for satellite-based Langmuir probes.The effects predicted by the latest theory of the electron Bohm criterion were not experimentally observed and the experimental results remain supportive of a critical area ratio(A_(L)/A_(S))_(crit)=(m_(i)/(2.3m_(e)))^(1/2)between the probe area A_(S)and the satellite area A_L as conventionally believed.A satellite-based Langmuir probe must satisfy this criterion to physically act as a single Langmuir probe.However,experimental investigations also found that high-energy electrons adversely affect(A_(L)/A_(S))_(crit)and a Langmuir probe's signal quality by giving additional electron current to A_(L).Based on these results,a number of limitations of the maximum probe area are derived when designing satellite-based Langmuir probes,with consideration of both the aim of the satellite and the plasma where the satellite-based probe works.These proposed measures are expected to only partially alleviate the effect of the inadequate satellite surface area on the application of satellite-based Langmuir probes.Using a larger satellite to carry a Langmuir probe remains the most viable means to obtain precise space plasma parameters.

关 键 词：space plasmas satellite-based Langmuir probe sheath/presheath electric propulsion 

分 类 号：O539[理学—等离子体物理]