Density measurements in a tenuous plasma by a high-frequency resonator with a periodic structure

It is proposed to measure plasma densities in the range of 105–109 cm−3 by a high-frequency resonator with a periodic structure consisting of annual high-frequency electrodes mounted on oppositely directed racks. The method proposed substantially increases the proportionality factor between the electron density and the shift of the resonator eigenfrequency. This factor is determined by the calibration method using an electron beam with given parameters. The calibration ensures an accuracy of about 10% for density measurements in a plasma produced by a 5-MeV proton beam propagating in air at pressures of 10−2–10−5 torr.