Spectroscopic measurements of the excitation temperature and electron ensity of a Helium discharge lamp
Abstract
Optical emission spectroscopy was used to investigate the processes occurring in the plasma of a helium discharge lamp at two regions: capillary and electrode. The capillary region having a smaller cross-sectional area gives rise to higher intensities making it easy for spectroscopic measurements in laboratories. With elemental discharge lamps producing low-pressure plasmas, the Boltzmann plot method only gives the excitation temperature (Texc) of the plasma. Texc was found to be 3200K at the capillary region while the region near the electrode ranges from 1400K-1700K. The electron density at the capillary region was found to be 2.70x1014 cm-3.