Features of application of electric probes in crossed non-uniform E and H fields

Summary form only given. In spite of the fact that the technique of an electrical probe in a magnetic field has been used for a long time, a universal theory does not exist enabling one to authentically process the probe characteristics in strong magnetic field. Besides, application of the probe in systems with crossed fields (Penning\´s discharge, magnetron, Hall-type ion source) is complicated by the presence of a non-uniform electric field (from 0 up to 10 kV/cm), as well as an intensive background flux of high-energy ions. In the present work we experimentally investigated probe measurements of the space potential and of electron energy distribution function (EEDF) in different regions of the discharge with crossed fields. The experiments were conducted on the Hall-type ion source "Radical". The measurement of EEDF was made by means of double differentiation of the current-voltage characteristic of a cylindrical Langmuir probe with use of probe potential modulation. For the determination of plasma potential both the technique of second derivative, and a glow emitting probe were used.