Excitation of the 1s-italic/sub 5/, 1s-italic/sub 4/, 1s-italic/sub 3/, and 1s-italic/sub 2/ levels of argon by low-energy electrons

Journal Article · Fri Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Phys. Rev. A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.34.1007· OSTI ID:5522145

Tachibana, K

Excitation rate coefficients for the 1s-italic/sub 5/, 1s-italic/sub 4/, 1s-italic/sub 3/, and 1s-italic/sub 2/ levels of argon by collisions with low-energy electrons have been measured using a drift-tube technique. Time dependences of the absolute population densities of the excited levels were measured by an absorption method with a tunable diode laser as a light source. The absorption data were analyzed according to the rate equations for these levels and the excitation rate coefficient per unit length of electron drift and per argon-atom density was obtained for each level as a function of the electric field to gas density ratio E-italic/N-italic. The values for the 1s-italic/sub 5/ level vary from 2.0 x 10/sup -19/ to 2.5 x 10/sup -17/ cm/sup 2/ as E-italic/N-italic increases from 5 x 10/sup -17/ to 5 x 10/sup -15/ V cm/sup 2/. In comparison with these values, those for the 1s-italic/sub 3/ level are about one-fifth, those for the 1s-italic/sub 4/ level are about the same, and those for the 1s-italic/sub 2/ level are slightly larger in respective measured E-italic/N-italic ranges. In order to estimate the cascading effects from the higher-lying levels, excitation rate coefficients for the 2p-italic and 3p-italic levels have also been measured from absolute intensities of the line emissions. From a comparison of all the measured values of the excitation rate coefficients with those calculated from the Boltzmann analysis, a recommended set of cross sections for these levels has been deduced.

• Research Organization: Department of Electronics, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606 Japan
• OSTI ID: 5522145
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. A; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. A; (United States) Vol. 34:2; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640304* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ABSORPTION
ARGON
ATOM COLLISIONS
COLLISIONS
CROSS SECTIONS
DRIFT TUBES
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-ATOM COLLISIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
FLUIDS
GASES
LASERS
MEASURING METHODS
NONMETALS
RARE GASES