Balmer Hα, Hβ and Hγ Spectral Lines Intensities in High-Power RF Hydrogen Plasmas

Abstract

Hα (Balmer-alpha), Hβ (Balmer-beta) and Hγ (Balmer-gamma) spectral line intensities in atomic hydrogen plasma are investigated by using a high-power RF source. The intensities of the Hα, Hβ and Hγ spectral lines are detected by increasing the input power (0–6 kW) of ICPs (inductively coupled plasmas). With the increase of net input power, the intensity of Hα improves rapidly (0–2 kW), and then reaches its dynamic equilibrium; the intensities of Hβ can be divided into three processes: obvious increase (0–2 kW), rapid increase (2–4 kW), almost constant (4–6 kW); while the intensities of Hγ increase very slowly. The energy levels of the excited hydrogen atoms and the splitting energy levels produced by an obvious Stark effect play an important role in the results.