Measurement of excitation temperature and electron density in capillary Z-pinch argon plasma

Abstract

The pressure dependence of excitation temperature (T-exc) and electron density (n(e)) versus time was investigated to understand the characteristics of capillary Z-pinch argon (Ar) plasma. Measured profiles of several Ar lines were used to calculate T-e and n(e). T-e measured by Boltzmann plot method has a maximum of similar to 2.4 eV n(e) obtained from the Stark broadened line of Ar II wavelength 422.816 nm was similar to 10(17) cm(-3). Conditions in our system meet the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE), so using LTE to calculate T-e and n(e) is valid in our system. (C) 2011 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.