Fully 3D-Printed Miniature Langmuire Multi-Probe Sensor for Cubesat Ionospheric Plasma Diagnostics

Abstract

We report the design, fabrication, and characterization of the first additively manufactured, multi-Langmuir probe (MLP) sensor for CubeSat plasma diagnostics. The probes are configured on three different, independent sensing systems (i.e., single, dual, and triple Langmuir probes {LPs}) that generate rich plasma data, including corroborated and real-time measurements. The probe electrodes have a 0.5 mm by 0.5 mm cross-section and were additively manufactured in stainless steel (SS) via binder material jetting, while the sensor housing was 3D-printed in the glass-ceramic material, vitrolite, via vat polymerization. The 3D-printed MLP was tested in a laboratory helicon plasma. The single and dual LPs showed excellent agreement, to within <5% for all plasma characteristics. The triple LP measured plasma parameters instantly, providing a time-sensitive snapshot of the plasma.