get_plasma_potential

plasmapy.diagnostics.langmuir.get_plasma_potential(probe_characteristic, return_arg=False)

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

Quantity

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.