Spatially resolved spectroscopic diagnostics of an argon MIP produced by surface wave propagation (Surfatron)

Spatially resolved spectroscopic diagnostics of an argon MIP have been obtained after Abel inversion. The plasma is sustained by surface wave propagation and is working at atmospheric pressure. The inner diameter of the discharge tube has been selected to obtain one stable discharge filament. Electronic excitation temperatures with argon and rotational temperatures of some molecular species (OH and N₂⁺), electron number and metastable densities and absolute values of the continuum emission coefficient have been determined. In contrast to ICPs and DCPs, the origin of the continuum in the visible part of the spectrum cannot be attributed only to radiative recombination.