It has been demonstrated, that cylindrical probe in anisotropic plasma allows to measure only the even components of the electron velocity distribution expansion. For the first time the method for determining the odd moments of the distribution function by solving a system of ki-netic Boltzmann equations, connecting the even and odd moments ( f₀, f ₁); ( f₀, f ₁, f₂) etc. has been developed. The method was tested in plasma of low-voltage beam discharge in helium. The experimental probe I- V traces for different orientations of a cylindrical probe with respect to the axis of symmetry of the plasma has been obtained. The moments of f₀ and f₂ has been cal-culated, f₁ moment is defined by solving the «vector» kinetic equation. The accuracy of f₁ calculation controlled by coincidence of calculated and measured values of discharge current. Theoretical and experimental values are in a good agreement.

This paper deals with the further development of the probe method for the investigation of the anisotropic plasma. The theoretical basis of the method for determining the full electron velocity distribution function in the mirror-symmetric plasma has been developed. For probes of different geometries the analytical expressions, which connects the second derivative of probe current with respect to the potential with the multipole moments of the electron velocity distribution function has been obtained.

The method of local anisotropic plasma has been developed. The mathematical apparatus of the method for rapid analysis of the degree of anisotropy electron distribution function, as one of the main characteristics of anisotropic plasma has been proposed. It has been demonstrated that the degree of anisotropy of the plasma can be determined only by the form of the IU curve (the second derivative of probe current to the probe potential). The possibilities of the method in area of reconstruction of the full distribution function have been illustrated.