[Table of Contents]

Plasma and Fusion Research

Volume 2, 029 (2007)

Rapid Communications

Study of Metastable Population Density in a Hollow Cathode Helium Discharge
Atsushi OKAMOTO, Takashi KOBUCHI, Sumio KITAJIMA and Mamiko SASAO
Department of Quantum Science and Energy Engineering, Tohoku University
(Received 27 May 2007 / Accepted 2 June 2007 / Published 2 July 2007)

Abstract

The population density of metastable helium atoms is experimentally investigated in a hollow cathode discharge. The metastable population density measured using laser absorption spectroscopy is proportional to the square root of electron density under conditions of constant electron temperature and a constant neutral density. Calculation based on a collisional-radiative model and diffusion loss indicates that metastable population density is linearly proportional to electron density.

Keywords

laser absorption spectroscopy, helium atom, metastable state, hollow cathode discharge, collisional radiative model

DOI: 10.1585/pfr.2.029

Full Text

PDF format ( 93Kbytes) PDF Download

References

  • [1] A. Okamoto, K. Shinto, S. Kitajima and M. Sasao, Plasma Fusion Res. (2007) in press.
  • [2] M. Goto, J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transf. 76, 331 (2003).
  • [3] T. Fujimoto, J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transf. 21, 439 (1979).
  • [4] A.W. Johnson and J.B. Gerardo, Phys. Rev. A 7, 925 (1973).
  • [5] A.V. Phelps, Phys. Rev. 99, 1307 (1955).

This paper may be cited as follows:

Atsushi OKAMOTO, Takashi KOBUCHI, Sumio KITAJIMA and Mamiko SASAO, Plasma Fusion Res. 2, 029 (2007).