https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2009-00305-4
Hollow cathode fall field strength measured by Doppler-free two-photon optogalvanic spectroscopy via Stark splitting of the 2S level of hydrogen
Departamento de Física Teórica, Atómica y Óptica, Facultad
de Ciencias, Universidad de Valladolid, 47071 Valladolid, Spain
Corresponding author: concha@opt.uva.es
Received:
10
June
2009
Revised:
26
October
2009
Published online:
8
December
2009
It has recently been demonstrated that Doppler-free two-photon optogalvanic spectroscopy is very well suited to measure the strong electric field strength (0.4 kV/cm to 4 kV/cm) present in the cathode fall of hollow cathode discharges, via the Stark splitting of the 2S level of atomic hydrogen and its isotopes. Based on an improved reliability and precision of the measurements, the aim of the present study is to analyze more deeply the dependence of the cathode fall behaviour for a hydrogen discharge on the usual discharge parameters like gas pressure and discharge current; and for changes of the discharge geometry using two different cathode diameters of 10 mm and 15 mm.
PACS: 32.10.Fn – Fine and hyperfine structure / 42.62.Fi – Laser spectroscopy / 51.50.+v – Electrical properties
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2009
