Wave Studies Using Triple Langmuir Probe in Transient Plasma

Magnetosonic waves that grow into shocks were detected in high-density pulsed plasma plume by using a Triple Langmuir Probe (TLP). The frequency of these waves lies in the vicinity of the ion cyclotron frequency. It is believed that the interaction of ions with the intrinsic magnetic field is responsible for the formation of these waves. The existence of harmonics in the probe data confirms the growth of these magnetosonic waves into laminar shock waves via perturbations in the original wave. The understanding and processing of the TLP data, which is both low cost and handy, is reported in this work that opens up the scope for studying such waves in plasma.