Berlin 2001 – scientific programme

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P: Plasmaphysik

P 11: Dusty Plasmas and Low Temperature Discharges (Poster Session)

P 11.5: Poster

Thursday, April 5, 2001, 12:30–15:00, AT2

Langmuir probe diagnostics in a complex rf-plasma — •Markus Klindworth, Andre Melzer, and Alexander Piel — Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik derChristian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Leibnizstraße 19, 24098Kiel

Langmuir probes are a universal diagnostic instrument to determine plasma parameters in various kinds of plasmas. Our group is now developing a Langmuir probe system to examine complex plasmas in rf discharges. Several effects on the plasma parameters in the presence of dust particles are expected to be measurable with the system (e.g. the decrease of electron densities). A special design requirement is the functionality of the measurement system on parabolic flights, which will take place in the second half of 2001. The examined plasma is generated in a PKE (Plasma-Kristall-Experiment) discharge chamber, which was designed by the Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik to study complex plasmas under microgravity conditions.

First results of measurements under gravity conditions will be shown, including density profiles of the plasma species, potential profiles for the special geometry of this capacitive rf discharge and experiments with respect to the influence of dust particles. Other important aspects are the disturbance of the plasma during the probe voltage scan and the compensation of the rf signal.