Computational Simulation of Faraday Probe Measurements

Dedicated to my teachers through all the years. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I am indebted to my advisor Iain D. Boyd. Without his initial and continuing support I would have given up on grad school long ago. Iain provided a comfortable and challenging research environment, and shielded me from the vagaries of funding. He provided much needed insight and guidance when the course of my research changed, and handled my lengthening stay at Michigan with aplomb. All the while he maintained the understanding attitude and soft touch that allowed me to pursue other interests far beyond the scope of aerospace engineering. I cannot thank him enough, and will always look to him as a model advisor. All the members of my committee have been understanding and generous with their time, and I thank them heartily for that. Each of them invested in me during my time at Michigan, whether it was teaching the science of plasma physics or the art of teaching