Research Associate
Center for Integrated Plasma Studies
University of Colorado
Ph.D. 2002, Charles University, Czech Republic

Office: Duane Physics, G318
Phone: 303-492-5535
Lab: 303-492-5565
Fax: 303-492-0642

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Research

My research interest is currently in plasma probes, in the physics of dusty plasmas and in the electric properties of cosmic dust particles. I perform experiments in this area and I am also involved in the development of probe theories and dust-charging in plasmas. I build experimental set-ups, develop instrumentation and perform numerical calculations.

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Selected Publications

Sternovsky, Z. and S. Robertson, “Numerical solutions to the weakly collisional plasma and sheath in the fluid approach and the reduction of the ion current to the wall,” IEEE Transactions on Plasma Sci. 34(3), 850-854, (June 2006).

Robertson, S., S. Knappmiller and Z. Sternovsky, “Energy balance and plasma potential in low-density hot-filament discharges,” IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science 34(3), 844-849, (June 2006).

Knappmiller, Scott, S. Robertson, and Z. Sternovsky, “Comparison of Two Microwave and Two Probe Methods for Measuring Plasma Density,” IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science 34(3), pp. 786-791, (June 2006).

Knappmiller, S., S. Robertson and Z. Sternovsky, “Method to find the electron distribution function from cylindrical probe data,” Physical Review E 73, 066402 (9 pages) (2006).

Z. Sternovsky, S. Robertson, and M. Lampe, “The contribution of charge exchange ions to Langmuir probe current,” Physics of Plasmas 10, 300-309 (2003).

M. Lampe, R. Goswami, Z. Sternovsky, S. Robertson, V. Gavrishchaka, G. Ganguli and G. Joyce, “Trapped ion effect on shielding, current flow and charging of a small object in a plasma,” Physics of Plasmas 10, 1500-1513 (2003).

Z. Sternovsky, S. Robertson and M. Lampe, "Ion collection by cylindrical probes in weakly collisional plasmas: Theory and experiment," Phys. 94(3), 1374-1381, August 2003.

S. Robertson and Z. Sternovsky, "Monte Carlo model of ion mobility and diffusion for low and high electric fields," Phys. Rev. E 67, 046405 (2003).

Z. Sternovsky, A. Sickafoose, J. Colwell, S. Robertson and M. Horányi, "Contact charging of lunar and martian dust simulants," J. Geophys. Res. 107(E11), 15-1 to 15-8, 15 Nov. 2002. Doi: 10.1029/2002JE001897.

Z. Sternovsky and S. Robertson, "The effect of charge exchange ions upon Langmuir probe current," A. Phys. Lett. 81, 1961-1963 (2002).