Development of heavy ion beam probe diagnostics

The results of the activity of the Kharkov and Moscow HIBP groups during recent years are presented in this paper. This is a review of papers published in the USSR and also contains extracts of some unpublished reports. The mathematical aspects of the diagnostics including the problems of the planning and design of an experiment along with the problems of the interpretation of the experimental data for plasma density and current determination are reviewed. The probing apparatus used in the experiment for plasma potential and density measurements are described. Some results of measurements are discussed and the trends to spread the use of HIBP in modern research are noted