Electrostatic probe diagnostics on the LBL 10 ampere neutral beam ion source

The experimental results of electrostatic probe measurements on the LBL 10 ampere ion source are presented. Data is obtained via a pulsed acquisition system which digitally records a probe characteristic and its first and second derivatives. The latter are shown to be proportional to the projected electron energy distribution function, and the isotropic electron energy distribution function, respectively. System performance for distribution function measurement is compared to the established technique of harmonic analysis. A complete analysis of the data acquisition system and its experimental accuracy is presented