Absorption spectroscopy measurements of argon metastable and resonant atom density in atmospheric pressure Ar-He surface-wave plasmas using a low pressure lamp

Journal Article · Sun Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2012 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3671408· OSTI ID:22038842

Munoz, J; Margot, J ^[1]; Calzada, M D ^[2]

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1. Departement de Physique, Universite de Montreal, C.P. 6128, Succ. Centre-ville, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7 (Canada)
2. Grupo de Espectroscopia de Plasmas, Edificio A. Einstein, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Cordoba, E-14071 Cordoba (Spain)

The densities of metastable and resonant atom were measured in atmospheric pressure Ar-He surface-wave plasmas. Measurements were performed using an absorption spectroscopy method taking into account the Voigt profiles of the plasma lines. The density values of the argon {sup 3}P{sub 2}, {sup 3}P{sub 0} (metastable atoms) and {sup 3}P{sub 1} (resonant atoms) levels measured in pure argon discharges are in good agreement with those reported in the literature. A drastic decrease of metastable and resonant densities is observed when introducing helium in amounts as low as 2%. The influence of electron density and gas temperature on the population mechanisms (direct electron excitation from the ground state and dissociative recombination) of metastable and resonant atoms is discussed using a simplified theoretical model.

• OSTI ID: 22038842
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 111, Issue 2; Other Information: (c) 2012 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
ARGON
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
ATOMS
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
ELECTRONS
EXCITATION
GROUND STATES
HELIUM
HIGH-FREQUENCY DISCHARGES
ION TEMPERATURE
IONS
METASTABLE STATES
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PLASMA SURFACE WAVES
RECOMBINATION