Suppose we have a cubesat in LEO, if the metallic surface of the satellite is at a positive potential it will attract electrons from the ionosphere plasma, the current collected will be I = J * A, with J the current density of the plasma and A The sheath area, at higher voltages the area will be larger, but how can I calculate this area given a certain potential?
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$\begingroup$ For a very rough number, I wonder if it is possible to use the Child Langmuir law to estimate the sheath distance then use it as a radius of a sphere and calculate its area? There's also Analytical and exact solutions of the spherical and cylindrical diodes of Langmuir–Blodgett law (paywalled) and Novel Scaling Laws for the Langmuir-Blodgett Solutions in Cylindrical and Spherical Diodes $\endgroup$– uhohFeb 24, 2021 at 23:50
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$\begingroup$ (also here) and Theory of Spherical and Cylindrical Langmuir Probes in a Collisionless, Maxwellian Plasma at Rest $\endgroup$– uhohFeb 24, 2021 at 23:51
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$\begingroup$ Here's NASA's handbook on this and related topics standards.nasa.gov/file/7846/download?token=Sn8LMxdg $\endgroup$– Carl WitthoftFeb 25, 2021 at 13:49
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1$\begingroup$ thanks so much, i start a bounty for more information $\endgroup$– Ricardo CasimiroMar 20, 2021 at 23:47
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$\begingroup$ Hopefully someone can use those references and write up a nice answer! $\endgroup$– uhohMar 21, 2021 at 2:54
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