Measurement of the electron density in a microwave plasma torch at atmospheric pressure

Journal Article · Mon Nov 16 04:00:00 EST 2009 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3266923· OSTI ID:21294469

Qing, Zhang; Guixin, Zhang; Liming, Wang; Xinxin, Wang; Shumin, Wang ^[1]; Yan, Chen ^[2]

---

1. Department of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084 (China)
2. MCC Capital Engineer and Research Incorporation Limited, Beijing 100176 (China)

The electron density in a microwave plasma torch at atmospheric pressure was measured with a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The electron density is on the order of 10{sup 17}/cm{sup 3}, one order higher than that deduced from the Stark broadening of spectral lines, and increases with the increase in the microwave power. The spatial distribution of the electron density was obtained. The highest electron density locates at the symmetrical axis of the plasma torch and decreases radially. It was found that the electron density fluctuates within a range of 0.3 with the time under the same experimental conditions.

• OSTI ID: 21294469
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 20 Vol. 95; ISSN APPLAB; ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
ELECTRON DENSITY
LINE BROADENING
MACH-ZEHNDER INTERFEROMETER
MICROWAVE RADIATION
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
STARK EFFECT