Theory of a spherical electrostatic probe in a continuum gas - An exact solution

Abstract

The idealized problem of a spherical electrostatic probe in a quiescent continuum slightly ionized chemically frozen gas of uniform properties is treated. Exact solutions are obtained for the probe characteristic for the case of equal ion and electron temperatures over a wide range of probe potential and ratio of probe radius to Debye length. The results are compared with available approximate numerical solutions.