Response of an electrostatic probe for a right cylindrical spacer

During the last decade many experimental studies of surface charge phenomena have been undertaken employing right cylindrical spacers. Measurement of the surface charge was performed using small electrostatic field probes to scan across the dielectric surface. Charges are electrostatically induced on the sensor plate by the ambient surface charge, and hence as the probe is moved parallel to the surface the potential of the sensor plate changes. The probe sensor-plate potential is thus the parameter of interest as this parameter can be related in a quantitative manner to the surface charge density. In the present study, the influence of the spacer geometry upon the λ-function is examined. This knowledge allows the response of the probe with reference to detection sensitivity and spatial selectivity to be considered. Such probe characteristics enable general conclusions to be reached about the interpretation of experimental studies