Doppler spectroscopy of hydrogen Balmer lines in a hollow cathode glow discharge in argon–methane and argon–acetylene mixture

Abstract

The results of Doppler spectroscopy of hydrogen Balmer lines emitted from a stainless steel (SS) and copper (Cu) hollow cathode (HC) low-pressure glow discharge in argon–methane and argon–acetylene mixtures are reported. The role of dissociative excitation and dissociative ionization and excitation of hydrocarbon molecules in Balmer line shape formation is studied and discussed in relation to earlier electron beam interaction experiments with CH4 and C2H2. Experimental results of excessive Doppler broadening (EDB) of Balmer lines are reported also.