Computation of Langmuir Probe Characteristics

Elvi Marie Dumayaca

3G153303
I.

Introduction
The Langmuir probe technique is often used in plasma diagnostics and involves
the application of a range of voltages, called bias voltage ( V B ), to a metallic
conductor immersed in plasma and observing the collected current. One of these
contributing currents is that of the electron current. When V B is greater than the plasma
potential VP, the probe collects a maximum amount of electron-contributed current,
called the electron saturation current I es . When V B < V p , the electrons are
partially repelled by the probe, and for a Maxwellian electron velocity distribution, the
electron current decreases exponentially with decreasing V. For V B << V p , all
electrons are repelled so that I e = 0. Expressed as a function of VB, the electron
current is:

e ( V p V B )
,VBV p
eq. (1)
k Te
I es , V B >V p
Where the electron saturation current I es , is given by
1
I es= e ne v e, th A probe
eq. (2)
4
Where ne is the electron density, v e ,th 8 k T e / me eq. (3) is the
electron thermal speed and me is the electron mass. Using the previous formulae
during an actual Langmuir probe experiment, then, one can calculate for the electron
density and temperature (and consequently with the ion density and temperature) among
other characteristics. Consequently, the plasma potential can be determined through the
''knee'' where the exponential part of the current stabilizes into the I es .
I e ( V B ) = I es exp

II.

Calculation
The conditions for the characteristics to be calculated are as follows:
Parameter
Probe surface area
Electron density
Electron temperature

Symbol
S

ne
Te

Value
1

1 x 10
2

10

Unit
cm2
3

cm
eV

Table 1. Conditions provided for Langmuir probe IV characteristics calculation.

Contribution from ions were neglected. Furthermore, in this simulation, V P

was assumed to be 1V and the sweeping bias voltage was from -10V to 10V.
Substituting the given values into eq (3) and (2), values of v e ,th and I es were
calculated to be 9.46 x107 cm/s and 37.90 mA respectively. The latter can be seen on the
right side of Figure 1 when VB is greater than VP (1V). A ''knee'' can be observed at the
transition from the exponential and the electron saturation current. This ''knee''
corresponds to the plasma potential VP. As the bias voltage becomes more negative (as
in the left most side of the graph), the current should reach 0 A.

Langmuir Probe I-V Curve

40

Knee

Ies= 37.90 mA

Current (mA)

30

20

Electron repulsion
(VB<<VP)

Decay (VB<VP)

Electron saturation (VB>VP)

10

0
-10

-5

VP(=1V)

10

Bias Voltage (V)

Figure 1. Langmuir Probe I-V Curve from conditions given in Table 1.

References
[1]

Merlino, R.L. (2007). Understanding Langmuir probe current-voltage

characteristics. American Association of Physics Teachers, 1078-1085.