Experimental study of plasma potential in an asymmetric reflex discharge with thermionic cathode

This study presents an experimental methodology for generating an asymmetric distribution of plasma potential in a reflex discharge system with a thermionic cathode. Radial profiles of the plasma potential were measured using a thermionic probe under varying magnetic field strengths and gas pressures. The asymmetrization resulted in a nearly twofold increase in peak electric field intensity. A system of floating probes was employed to investigate perturbations and plasma instabilities arising in this configuration. Spectral analysis revealed two distinct oscillation frequencies, indicating the occurrence of a drift-type perturbation.