Electric-field measurements in 13.56-MHz helium discharges
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
In previous studies, Rydberg atom spectroscopy was used to measure electric fields in DC and 15-kHz helium discharges. Those studies utilized the optogalvanic effect to detect excitation of the Rydberg states. The authors have developed a variation of this technique that allows the measurement of electric fields in high-frequency (13.56 MHz) discharges and has much greater spatial resolution. These improvements arise from the detection of the Rydberg Stark manifolds by laser-induced fluorescence rather than by the optogalvanic effect. When helium Rydberg levels are excited by a laser, many other excited states are populated by collisional transfer and subsequent cascading processes; fluorescence from these other excited states can be used to monitor the excitation and structure of the Rydberg Stark manifolds. As an example, electric fields were measured in 0.5-Torr parallel-plate discharges by exciting the n=11 singlet manifold and monitoring fluorescence from the 1s2p{l_arrow}1s3d triplet transition.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 67916
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9310400--
- Journal Information:
- Bulletin of the American Physical Society, Journal Name: Bulletin of the American Physical Society Journal Issue: 13 Vol. 38; ISSN BAPSA6; ISSN 0003-0503
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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