Effect of atmospheric pressure pulsed discharge spatial inhomogeneity on Ar I and H I lines: Electron number density study

Abstract

AbstractThe spatial inhomogeneity of pulsed atmospheric pressure discharge in argon is investigated using the electron number density Ne diagnostics procedure applied to asymmetrically broadened Ar I lines. A dedicated fitting procedure is used for describing Ar I 703.0 nm line shape recorded from argon gas discharge and H I (at 486.13 and 656.28 nm) lines recorded from Ar‐H2 gas mixture discharge. The results revealed the change in Ne in both axial and radial directions. The additional Ar I lines at 614.5, 710.7, 731.2, and 731.6 nm, recorded from integral spatial radiation, are analysed as well to confirm the results from the plasma column region. The possibility of using AlO (B2∑+–X2∑+) and CN (B2∑+–X2∑+) molecular bands for gas temperature Tg measurements in this type of gas discharge source is demonstrated and Tg used as an input parameter for the Ne diagnostics procedure. For the proper identification of molecular band spectral lines, the Fortrat parabolas are constructed. The results obtained from Ar I 703.0 nm line indicate three different Ne values, with Ne1 ≈ 0.6 × 1016 cm−3, Ne2 ≈ 3.6 × 1016 cm−3, and Ne3 ≈ 19 × 1016 cm−3 measured from the plasma column. These Ne values increase in the cathode and anode region.