Measurements of helium metastable density in an atmospheric pressure glow discharge

Journal Article · Mon Aug 30 00:00:00 EDT 2004 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1784514· OSTI ID:20632753

Nersisyan, G; Morrow, T; Graham, W G ^[1]

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1. Physics Department, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland (United Kingdom)

The density of metastable helium atoms in a dielectric barrier discharge operating in helium with some impurities present has been measured using laser-collisional-induced fluorescence and absorption techniques. Time-resolved measurements indicate that helium metastables contribute to the production of impurity ions, in this case N{sub 2}{sup +}, in the postdischarge current phase of a glow discharge. In our particular discharge environment, the helium metastable density is (1.5{+-}1.4)x10{sup 10} cm{sup -3}, a result consistent with failure to observe absorption by metastables in a multipass absorption measurement.

• OSTI ID: 20632753
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 85, Issue 9; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.1784514; (c) 2004 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ABSORPTION
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
ATOMS
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
FLUORESCENCE
GLOW DISCHARGES
HELIUM
IMPURITIES
ION DENSITY
IONIZATION
METASTABLE STATES
MOLECULAR IONS
NITROGEN IONS
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
TIME RESOLUTION