Paschen β line shape studies in low-temperature plasmas

Abstract

Line shape calculations and measurements of the Paschen β line of hydrogen (λ=12818 Å) are reported. Measurements were performed at electron densities of the plasma between 10¹⁵ cm^-3 and 10¹⁶ cm^-3. A wall-stabilized arc operated at atmospheric pressure in a helium-hydrogen gas mixture was applied as the excitation source. The radiation of the plasma, originating from nearly homogeneous plasma layers, in the end-on direction, was analyzed. A grating spectrometer equipped with a CCD detector was used for the radiation detection. The measured line profiles are compared with results of available experimental and theoretical Stark broadening data e.g. based on simulation techniques, applied also in our calculations.