Abstract: | Diagnostic techniques for low-pressure, cold plasmas have mostly been limited to emission and mass spectrometry. Herein, the techniques of gas-phase electron paramagnetic resonance and laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy are briefly reviewed. Particular attention is paid to their attributes which make them good candidates for plasma diagnostic tools. It is found that gas-phase electron paramagnetic resonance can be used to determine and monitor the absolute concentration of a number of important plasma species, e.g., free radicals and atoms. Laser-induced fluorescence can also monitor, with even more sensitivity, but perhaps not so well absolutely, the concentrations of many plasma species, e.g., free radicals, metastable excited states, and molecular ions. |