Magnetized ion flux to arbitrary-shaped objects

Abstract

The interaction of magnetized plasma ions with a collecting object of arbitrary shape such as a Langmuir probe is analyzed by drift approximation. This solution provides the theoretical basis for interpreting "perpendicular" or "oblique" Mach probes that seek to determine the parallel and perpendicular background plasma flow by measuring the ion flux as a function of the orientation of the collector surface. The theory avoids any dependence upon heuristic diffusion and instead calculates the solution using the method of characteristics; accounting for parallel velocity, all cross-field drifts, and self-consistent boundary conditions.