probe

instrument

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Last updated

June 17, 2026

Quick Summary

A probe is a tool or instrument used for exploration, investigation, or testing. In medicine, it's a slender instrument for examining wounds or body cavities. In technology, probes can be pointed tips for electrical contact, devices inserted to test conditions, or instruments sent into space to gather information about celestial bodies.1

The Pioneer program, for instance, launched a series of unmanned U.S. space probes primarily for interplanetary study. These probes investigated planets like Jupiter and Saturn, measured solar wind and cosmic rays, and studied Venus's atmosphere. Probes are also used in broader contexts, such as scientific investigations, inquiries, and examinations to uncover facts or truths.23

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plasma
Determination of plasma variables
…types of sensory devices called probes help determine the magnitudes of such variables. With the electrostatic probe, ion densities, electron and ion temperatures, and electrostatic potential differences can be determined. Small search coils and other types of magnetic probes yield values for the magnetic field; and from Maxwell’s electromagnetic equations…
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…types of sensory devices called probes help determine the magnitudes of such variables. With the electrostatic probe, ion densities, electron and ion temperatures, and electrostatic potential differences can be determined. Small search coils and other types of magnetic probes yield values for the magnetic field; and from Maxwell’s electromagnetic equations…
Read More