Basic factors for acquiring, correcting, and interpreting probe current-voltage characteristic in moderate-collisional plasma for determining electron energy distribution

Abstract

Methods for inferring the electron distribution function (EDF) from a probe current-voltage trace are reviewed for moderate-collisional plasma. The explicit accounting of particle collisions, modeling sheath depletion, and electron refilling processes are rarely performed when analyzing probe measurements, yet they are critical for regime validity, EDF-profile accuracy, and space potential quantification precision. The advantages, limitations, and utilization of large-area wall probes in moderate-collisional plasma, capable of highly resolved indications of energetic electrons in plasma, are outlined.