Determination of the local electron number density in laser-induced plasmas by Stark-broadened profiles of spectral lines: Comparative results from Hα, Fe I and Si II lines

Measurements of the local electron density in laser-induced plasma have been carried out from the Stark-broadened profiles of three reference lines (Hα, Fe I and Si II). The plasma has been generated from a Fe–Si sample in air using a Nd:YAG laser. Compatible values of the local electron density have been obtained from the three lines. The experiment is based on the use of an imaging spectrometer, the capability for spatial resolution of a charge-coupled device and the application of a spatial deconvolution procedure to the spectra. Distributions of the emission coefficient have been obtained, showing that the three lines are emitted from different regions of the plasma. The implications in the apparent electron density values obtained in spatially-integrated measurements are discussed: similar values are obtained for the Hα and Si II lines, while the Fe I line leads to a 25% lower value.