get_plasma_potential
- plasmapy.diagnostics.langmuir.get_plasma_potential(probe_characteristic, return_arg: bool = False)[source]
Implement the simplest but crudest method for obtaining an estimate of the plasma potential from the probe characteristic.
- Parameters:
probe_characteristic (
Characteristic
) – The probe characteristic that is being analyzed.return_arg (
bool
, optional) – Controls whether or not the argument of the plasma potential within the characteristic array should be returned instead of the value of the voltage. Default is False.
- Returns:
V_P – Estimate of the plasma potential in units convertible to V.
- Return type:
Notes
The method used in the function takes the maximum gradient of the probe current as the ‘knee’ of the transition from exponential increase into the electron the saturation region.