Surface charge measurement using an electrostatic probe

The existence of a charge at a dielectric surface gives rise to the electrification by electrostatic induction of the probe. In turn this phenomenon leads to the probe signal. The procedure by which such signals are analysed to yield the unknown surface charge distribution forms the subject matter of the present contribution. In particular, we will discuss the elegant field approach proposed by Pedersen. This we have now fully developed, and controlled against the experimental data of Yashima et al.