The Behavior Of Gridded Spherical And Planar Electron Probes In A Non Maxwellian Plasma

The responses of gridded spherical and planar electrostatic probes to plasmas with kappa type distribution functions are analyzed along lines developed by Mott-Smith and Langmuir. Specifically, consider a case that could be encountered when a satellite is in the outer reaches of the plasma-sphere. Practical rules are developed for calculating the plasma's spectral index (K), its mean thermal energy, and density. It is shown that treating the plasma as though it were Maxwellian, can lead to serious overestimates of the mean thermal energy but less serious overestimates of the electron density.