Analysis of the profiles of the argon 696.5 nm spectral line excited in non-stationary wave-guided discharges

This study presents plasma diagnostics based on the analysis of the wavelength profile of the 696.5 nm argon spectral line. Besides a high spectral resolution, the detection system provides a resolution in time and space. The procedure is applied to non-stationary microwave discharges sustained by propagating surface waves in argon gas at elevated pressure. The pressure range of 20–120 torr which is covered corresponds to the regime of a discharge condition into a filamentary structure. The data processing provides the determination of the Gaussian and Lorentzian half-widths from which the gas temperature and the electron number density are obtained.