Determination of electron temperature of a plasma by probing the extraordinary wave along a magnetic field

This paper examines the possibility of determining the temperature of a plasma by probing the extraordinary wave, with the probing field frequency less than the electron cyclotron frequency and with electron concentration above critcal. The absorption coefficient of this kind of plasma, which is transparent only for the extraordinary wave, depends appreciably on the magnetic field intensity. This makes it possible to determine the effective collision frequency from the relative change in the wave amplitude for a small variation in the magnetic field. The region of variation is chosedn so that collisional absorption dominates over other kinds. Experimental investigations have been performed for lambda = 3 cm and H=4 to 10 kG. The observed values of temperature are compared with results of diamagnetic measurements. (auth)