Use of fluorescence spectroscopy of hydrogen atoms and BH molecules for measurements of electric fields in a plasma

Abstract

Two laser-aided techniques for electric field (EF) measurements in a plasma have been realized. The first technique is based on the use of Stark splitting of high-lying levels of atomic hydrogen, whereas the second technique is based on the use of Stark mixing of the Λ-doublet energy sublevels of boron monohydride molecules. Both diagnostic techniques have been applied to the measurements of EFs in a hollow cathode discharge. The results of the EF measurements obtained by both techniques are in good agreement. The strength of the EF in a hollow cathode discharge was in the range of 1000–2600 V cm−1 for the dark space region and in the range of 200–300 V cm−1 for the negative glow region.