Determination of Plasma Density Profile and Other Parameters of Cylindrical Plasma Columns with an Electroacoustic Probe

A new diagnostic method based on the excitation of thermal resonances using an electroacoustic probe has been developed to determine the electron density profile and other plasma parameters of a cylindrical warm-plasma column. A coaxial electroacoustic probe is used to excite and detect the dipole and thermal resonances as the plasma density is varied. The electron density profile is expressed functionally in terms of unknown profile parameters. The profile and other parameters of the plasma column are then determined numerically based on some theoretical formulas and experimental results.