Comparison between Langmuir Probe and Microwave Electron Density Measurements in an Arc-Heated Low-Density Wind Tunnel

Abstract

Measurements were made of the electron density in a low-density supersonic argon plasma jet flow by the stagnation point Langmuir probe method and by a microwave interferometric technique. The two methods yielded results in reasonably good agreement. It was also possible to obtain some information on the radial distribution of ionization in the jet from the microwave measurements.