Three‐dimensional reconstruction of the ion velocity distribution function of plasma with a retarding‐grid analyzer

A study of computerized tomography is made for the purpose of reconstructing the ion velocity distribution function of plasma in the three‐dimensional velocity space. A conventional type of ion energy analyzer with retarding grids is rotated in a plasma in order to acquire the data to be processed. Experimental results are presented on an argon plasma with a low‐energy ion beam, which is generated in a double‐plasma machine.