A rocket-borne Langmuir probe response to continuous and pulsed sweep modes

Abstract

Nightime ionospheric electron density and temperature are measured using a rocket-borne Langmuir probe (LP) launched on board a SONDA III rocket from the Brazilian equatorial rocket launching station in Alcantara-MA, at 23:51 hrs (LT) on May 31, 1992. A sweep voltage varying between -IV and +2.5V is applied to the spherical LP sensor alternately in continuous and pulsed modes. In the continuous mode the effect of contamination of the sensor surface on the current collected by the sensor is clearly seen in the current-voltage characteristics and thereby on the electron temperature estimated, while this effect is practically absent in the pulsed mode operation. An electron temperature profile estimated from the LP data is compared with the IRI90 model profile.