Electron density of an individual microdischarge channel in patterns in a dielectric barrier discharge at atmospheric pressure

Abstract

The electron density of an individual microdischarge channel in different stable patterns including a square and a hexagon pattern in a dielectric barrier discharge in argon at atmospheric pressure is investigated using a spectral line profile method. The procedure for deconvolution of the asymmetric convolution integral is used to obtain the Stark broadening and shift of Ar I 696.54 nm for the calculation of electron density. The broadening parameters such as electron impact width ωe and ion impact width α can also be obtained from the procedure. By comparing ωe with the theoretical values at different electron temperatures given by Griem, the electron temperature can be reasonably estimated. It is found that the electron density in an individual microdischarge channel increases with increasing voltage.