https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2010-00166-8
Space resolved density measurements of argon and helium metastable atoms in radio-frequency generated He-Ar micro-plasmas
1
Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Institute for Experimental Physics II, Universitätsstrae 150, NB 5/73, 44780 Bochum, Germany
2
Laboratoire de Spectrométrie Physique, Université Grenoble & CNRS, CNRS, France
Corresponding author: a benedikt.niermann@rub.de
Received:
23
April
2010
Revised:
18
May
2010
Published online:
18
June
2010
Space resolved concentrations of helium He* S1) and argon Ar* (3P2)
metastable atoms in an atmospheric pressure radio frequency micro-plasma jet were measured using tunable diode laser absorption
spectroscopy. Even small absorptions down to 10-4 could be measured using lock-in technique. The absolute density of metastable atoms
densities at different rf-power, flow rate and gas mixture was deduced from measured absorption rates. Metastable concentrations range from
109 to 1011 cm-3. Analysis of spectral profiles provided the pressure broadening coefficients of both metastable atoms by helium. The spatial distribution of metastable atoms in the plasma volume was obtained for various discharge conditions. Density profiles between the electrodes reveal the sheath structure and reflect the plasma excitation distributions in the discharge volume. It reveals the dominance of the α-mode discharge.
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2010