Relative densities of hydrogen ion species in a hollow cathode glow discharge

Highly resolved Doppler shifted peaks of the hydrogen Balmer lines, resulting from charge exchange of H⁺, H₂⁺, and H₃⁺ with an H₂ gas target, were obtained without the need for a deconvolution procedure. This enabled the unambiguous determination of the chemistry of these hydrogen species in the units of mTorr pressure range. This was obtained from a gaseous discharge using a biconical hollow cathode that yielded a well collimated and monoenergetic beam.     

Stark broadening of isolated lines: calculation of the diagonal multiplet factor for complex configurations (n1l1 n n2l2 m n3l3 p)

Owing to the increasing sensitivity of detectors, accurate line profiles are needed for accurate stellar atmospheres modelling and for laboratory and technological plasmas as well. So, Stark broadening parameters of isolated lines of complex atoms and ions within the impact and quasistatic approximation are needed, even if the atomic abundance of the considered element is low. Angular factors of the diagonal line strength entering the quadrupole term appearing in the semi-classical expression of the width of line broadened by electron or ion perturbers, are needed. The aim of this paper is to extend the previous calculations of this diagonal multiplet factor which were obtained for configurations of the type lⁿ and l₁ ⁿl₂ ^m to more complex configurations in LS coupling. To study the Stark broadening of isolated lines in the impact and quasistatic approximation, we use the semi-classical-perturbation treatment, including both dipole and quadrupole contribution in the expansion of the electrostatic interaction between the optical electron and the perturber. We also use the Fano-Racah algebra. Angular factors of the diagonal line strength entering the quadrupole term appearing in the semi-classical expression of the width of line broadened by electron or ion perturbers, are calculated. New diagonal multiplet factor formulae for more complicated configurations such as (n₁l₁ ⁿ(L_nS_n)n₂l₂ ^m(L_mS_m)n₃l₃ ^p(L_pS_p)) are provided. These formulae can enter the computer Stark semi-classical perturbation codes.     

On the Stark broadening of Sr+ and Ba+ resonance lines in ultracold neutral plasmas

We report results of the Stark broadening calculations for Sr⁺ and Ba⁺ resonance lines in ultracold plasmas using semiempirical formulas and numerical computer simulation technique. The simulation results show that strong collisions dominate Stark broadening at very low electron temperatures and weak collision approximation used recently by Vrinceanu et al. cannot be applied in this temperature region. Consequently, the temperature trend of Stark widths and shifts changes from successfully used at elevated temperatures to an increasing trend with temperature, which is characteristic for strong collisions at low temperature.     

Stark broadening of the hydrogen Paschen <Emphasis Type="Bold">γ</Emphasis> transition at electron densities of the order of cm

Stark broadening measurements and calculations of the Paschen γ spectral line of hydrogen ( λ = 1.094[: MU :] m) are reported. Investigations have been performed at plasma electron densities between 1.4×10 ¹⁵ cm ^-3 and 3.7×10 ¹⁵ cm ^-3 . As the light source a wall-stabilized arc operated in a helium-hydrogen gas mixture at atmospheric pressure has been applied. The radiation of the plasma emitted from nearly homogeneous plasma layers in end-on direction, was measured with the use of a grating spectrometer equipped with a charge coupled device (CCD) detector. The radiance calibration was carried out against light outputs originating from a tungsten strip radiation standard. The measured FWHM are compared with results of our calculations based on computer simulation techniques (full computer simulation method -- FCSM). Our broadening data are also compared with results of other theoretical approaches (MM-method, quasi-static approximation) and with experimental data obtained at electron densities about one order of magnitude larger than ours. Received 21 January 2003 Published online 24 April 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: wujec@uni.opole.pl     

Temperature dependence of atomic spectral line widths in a plasma

We investigated here temperature dependence of Stark widths for neutral atom spectral lines in order to find a more precise method for scaling with temperature than sometimes used dependence T^-1/2, which is often inadequate particularly for Stark broadening of neutral emitter lines. We found here an analytical scaling with temperature within simplified semiclassical approaches of Freudenstein and Cooper and Dimitrijević and Konjević. For analysis of the temperature dependence, lines of HeI were used.     

The He I 706.52 nm line shape characteristics in the plasma diagnostics

On the basis of the precisely recorded 706.52 nm He I line shape we have obtained the basic plasma parameters i.e. electron temperature (T) and electron density (N) using our new line deconvolution procedure in the case of five various plasmas created in a linear, low-pressure, pulsed arc discharge. Plasma parameters have been also measured using independent experimental diagnostical techniques. Excellent agreement was found among the two sets of the obtained parameters. This enables our deconvolution procedure to recommendation for plasma diagnostical purposes, especially in astrophysics where direct measurements of the plasma parameters (T and N) are not possible. Besides, on the basis of the observed asymmetry of the Stark broadened line profile we have obtained its ion broadening parameter (A) caused by influence of the ion microfield to the line broadening mechanism and also the influence of the ion dynamic effect (D) to the line shape. Our A and D parameters represent the first data obtained experimentally using the line profile deconvolution procedure. We have found stronger influence of the ion contribution to the 706.52 nm He I line profile than the existing theoretical approximations estimate. This can be important for plasma modeling or for diagnostics. Received 30 October 2002 Published online 15 April 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: vladimir@ff.bg.ac.yu     

Measurements of electron density and Stark width of neutral helium lines in a helium arc plasma

Electron densities in an atmospheric helium arc plasma have been measured with the Stark broadening parameters of helium spectral lines. The spatially distributed radiation intensities are converted to plasma emission coefficients at every wavelength by means of Abel inversion. From the inverted profiles of He I lines of 4713 ?, 5016 ?, and 6678 ? electron density has been calculated, which ranges from 0.5 ×10¹⁶ to 4 ×10¹⁶ cm^-3 for a helium arc with current 200 A. Stark widths of He I lines of 3889 ? and 7065 ? are determined based on the measurements and compared with existing data.     

The first Au III Stark widths

The shapes of 12 doubly ionized gold (Au III) spectral lines have been measured in the laboratory helium plasma at about 16 600 K electron temperature and 7.4×¹⁰²² m⁻³$7.4\times {10}^{22}{\text{ m}}^{\mathrm{-3}}$ electron density. At mentioned plasma conditions the Stark broadening has been found as the dominant mechanism in the Au III line shape formation. Here presented data are the first reported values for Stark widths related to the Au III lines. The modified version of the linear, low-pressure, pulsed arc was used as a plasma source operated in helium with gold atoms, as impurities, evaporated from gold cylindrical plates located in the homogeneous part of the discharge, providing conditions free of self-absorption.     

Linewidth studies on the Kr+ 469.4 nm and 473.9 nm lines excited in a helium-krypton hollow cathode discharge

Collisional and Doppler linewidths (v _C and v _D ) of the 469.4 nm and 473.9 nm Kr ion lines were measured in a He-Kr hollow cathode discharge using Fabry-Perot technique. A linear dependence of v _C on He pressure was found for both lines. Significant differences were found between the temperature values deduced from the v _D -s of the two lines, and an unexpected temperature dependence of the broadening parameter for the Kr⁺ 469 nm line was also observed. The temperature difference between the two lines is explained by excitation of the upper level of the 469 nm line by second kind collisions between metastable He atoms and ground-state Kr ions, while the temperature dependence of the broadening parameter of the Kr⁺ 469 nm line is suggested to be due to the inverse process.     

Oscillator strength of the strongly “forbidden” Pb 6 p 2 3 P 0 ?6 p 2 3 P 1 transition at 1278.9 nm

The “forbidden” Pb 6p^{2 3}P ₀ ↦6 p ^{2 3}P₁ line at 1278.9 nm is measured by diode laser absorption in a resistively heated hot-pipe filled with a lead vapour and argon as buffer gas. The measurements performed at a temperature of 1170 K and a lead number density of 2.4×10 ¹⁵ cm^-3 yield the oscillator strength f _F = (4.5±1.1)×10 ^-7 which corresponds to a radiative transition probability A _F = (6.1±1.5) s^-1. Within the error bars, the result is in agreement with theoretical data published by different authors. Received 11 October 2000 and Received in final form 5 January 2001     

High resolution polarization spectroscopy and laser induced fluorescence of CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> around 2μm

High resolution Infrared Polarisation Spectroscopy (IRPS) and Infrared Laser Induced Fluorescence (IRLIF) techniques were used to probe CO₂/N₂ binary gas mixture at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature. The probed CO₂ molecules were prepared by laser excitation to an overtone and combination ro-vibrational state (12⁰1, J=15) of CO₂, centred at 4988.6612 cm^-1. IRPS and IRLIF line profiles were recorded for several CO₂/N₂ binary mixtures. The observed IRLIF line shapes have the expected Lorentzian form while the observed IRPS line shapes are narrower by a factor of two than those recorded with the IRLIF and appear to have a Lorentzian-cubed profile. The recorded line profiles provide measurements of the pressure-broadening coefficient directly at atmospheric pressure. The Full-Width-Half-Maxima (FWHM) pressure broadening coefficients are measured, based on IRLIF, to be 0.2174±0.0092 cm^-1atm^-1 and 0.1327 ±0.0077 cm^-1atm^-1 for self- and N₂ collision broadening, respectively. The broadening coefficients obtained based on IRPS were measured to be ~8% larger than those obtained with IRLIF.     

Study of the far wing of the Balmer α line of hydrogen perturbed by collisions with protons

The theory of the Balmer α line of atomic hydrogen perturbed by collisions with protons predicts quasi-molecular satellites in the line wing due to H-H⁺ collisions. Measurements of the spectrum of a laser-produced plasma confirm the existence of the strongest of these features. <     

Pressure effects on 2p5 3p - 2p5 3d transitions in neon

The collisional broadening and shift of four spectral lines of neon (747.2, 748.8, 753.5, 754.4 nm) arising from 2p⁵ 3p - 2p⁵ 3d transitions, emitted from a low-pressure glow discharge in pure neon and neon-helium mixtures have been measured using a Fabry-Perot interferometer. The values of pressure broadening and shift coefficients are determined and analyzed in terms of the impact theory.     

Experimental Stark broadening studies of the CI transition 3s1P1o ? 3p1S0 at 833.5 nm

Experimental Stark broadening studies of the infrared CI transition 3s ¹ P ₁ ^o − 3p ¹ S ₀ at 833.5 nm are reported for the first time. A high-current wall-stabilized arc, operated in a mixture of helium, argon, carbon dioxide and hydrogen, was applied as the plasma source. Radiation emitted from homogeneous and optically thin plasma layers was analyzed. Stark broadening studies of the selected CI transition and the hydrogen Balmer β line were performed. As expected from theoretical considerations, the CI line width depends linearly on the electron density of the plasma. Applying theoretical Stark broadening data for the H _gb line, the measured Stark widths of the CI line were calibrated for the purpose of electron density determination in low temperature plasmas.     

On the Stark broadening of the He I 447.1 nm spectral line

Characteristics of the Stark broadened and overlapping 447.1 nm He I spectral line and its forbidden 447.0 nm components have been measured at electron densities between 4.4×10²² m^-3 and 8.2×10²² m^-3 and electron temperatures between 18 000 K and 33 000 K in plasmas created in five various discharge conditions using the low pressure pulsed arc as an optically thin plasma source operated in helium-nitrogen-oxygen gas mixture. Good agreement was found among our measured line characteristics and their existing calculated values, based on the quasistatic approximation. Possible influence of the singly ionized oxygen impurity atoms (O II) on the intensity values of the dip between allowed and forbidden components was found that can explain the disagreement among some existing experimental and calculated line characteristics data, at higher electron temperatures and densities. On the basis of the observed asymmetry of the 447.1 nm spectral line profile we have obtained the ion contribution parameter at 10²² m^-3 electron density and 8 000 K electron temperature. Received 20 February 2001 and Received in final form 25 April 2001     

Spontaneous relativistic two-photon decay rate mathematical expression in helium-like systems

Using a laser-induced fluorescence method a detailed analysis of profiles of the ¹¹⁴Cd 326.1 nm line perturbed by argon was performed which revealed deviations from the ordinary Voigt profile. These deviations are shown to be consistent with fits of experimental profiles to an asymmetric Voigt profile. Coefficients of the pressure broadening, shift and collision-time asymmetry are determined and compared with those calculated in the adiabatic approximation for different interaction potentials. Received 19 July 2000     

Laser-induced fluorescence study of the influence of N <Emphasis Type="Bold">2</Emphasis> and CH <Emphasis Type="Bold">4</Emphasis> on the <Emphasis Type="Bold">114</Emphasis>Cd intercombination line

Using a laser-induced fluorescence method a detailed analysis of profiles of the ¹¹⁴Cd 326.1 nm line perturbed by N₂ and CH₄ was performed which revealed deviations from the ordinary Voigt profile. These deviations are shown to be consistent with fits of experimental profiles to an asymmetric Voigt profile. Coefficients of the pressure broadening, shift and collision-time asymmetry are determined and compared with those calculated for van der Waals interaction potential. Received 29 November 2001 / Received in final form 12 July 2002 Published online 4 February 2003     

Messung starkverbreiteter Balmerlinien in einer Hochfrequenzentladung niedriger Elektronendichte

The Balmer linesH ₆ toH ₁₂ of a calibrated HF-discharge (N _e=1.45×10¹³cm^?3) are investigated. The measurement of the line wings is extended to intensities less than 10^?3 of the peak intensity. For higher lines the transition to the asymptotic Holtsmark wings is observed. The results are compared with quasistatic calculations and with predictions of the unified theory. In the former case the experimental profiles show a somewhat larger broadening, in the latter case a somewhat smaller broadening. The differences are most pronounced for lower series members. The large broadening found by Bengtson, Kepple and Tannich is not confirmed.     

Impact broadening and shift rates for the 6p2 3PJ′ → 7s 3P J o transitions of lead induced by collisions with argon and helium

The collisional broadening and shift rate coefficients of the 283.39 nm (6p ^{2 3}P₀ → 7s ³P₁ ^o ), 364.06 nm (6p ^{2 3}P₁ → 7s ³P₁ ^o ), 368.45 nm (6p ^{2 3}P₁ → 7s ³P₀ ^o ) and 405.90 nm (6p ^{2 3}P₂ → 7s ³P₁ ^o ) Pb lines by He and Ar have been measured by fitting the experimental absorption line shapes to theoretical Voigt profiles. The absorption measurements were performed in a resistively heated, Pb loaded oven with an integrated dc noble gas discharge to produce also Pb atoms in the 6p ^{2 3}P¹ and 6p ^{2 3}P² metastable states. The diffusion of the metastable atoms out of the discharge zone into the neutral noble-gas atmosphere enabled the line-shape and shift measurement of the lines involving the metastable states without the influence of the discharge plasma.     

Diode laser spectroscopic measurement and impact theoretical analysis of collision broadening of acetylene band transitions

A near infrared diode laser spectrometer has been used for measurement of line shapes of the rotational transitions of the () overtone-combination band of acetylene perturbed by oxygen and air. Pressure-broadening coefficients and line strength parameters are extracted from least squares fitting of the spectra with Voigt profiles. A detailed calculation of pressure-broadening coefficients for the self, nitrogen and oxygen broadening cases has been performed by using semi-classical impact theory based on quadrupolar and dispersion interactions. The relative importance of the intermolecular interactions has been investigated and it is found that for these weak interaction cases dispersive terms have a dominant role in line broadening. This is more pronounced for the O₂-broadening case. We have included all the non-resonant terms till convergence is achieved. The cutoff parameter b₀ of the Anderson procedure has been determined separately for each non-resonant process. In order to include the orientation effect of the molecules at the moment of collision we have considered an average kinetic collision diameter which sets the lower limit of b₀. This improves the result considerably and the calculated values are close to the observed results. The J-dependence of the half width is also reported and shows decrease for large J-values. Received 24 November 1999