On energetic electrons in a multipolar magnetically confined Ar plasma

Energetic electrons in the filament vicinity of a multipolar magnetically confined Ar plasma were investigated by spherical and planar probes using the test function method. Being very sensitive to deviation of the electron energy distribution function from Maxwellian, the test function was able to emphasize the influence of primary electrons on the determination of plasma parameters. In order to avoid ambiguity in the estimation of energetic electron parameters, the energetic electrons were separated into anisotropic-primary and isotropic-hot electrons. (author)