Numerical investigation of a nonequilibrium surface temperature effect on the electrostatic probe measurement in high gas temperature continuum plasmas

The nonequilibrium surface temperature of electrostatic probes used for plasma diagnostics influences the interpretation of the measured current-voltage relations in terms of plasma density, potential, electron temperature etc. Theoretical investigations of this phenomenon usually assumed the Debye length to be negligible related to the probe radius. The present paper assumes the controversial limit and includes the thermophoresis into consideration. The exact field, diffusion and heat conduction equations are solved numerically. (D.Gy.)