Steady-state excitation of Ne atoms in the working medium of a 585.3-nm plasma laser

The results are presented from studies of the excitation of Ne atoms in the plasma of a multielectrode corona discharge in the working medium of a high-pressure plasma laser (λ=585.3 and 703.2 nm) with a 'needle-grid' electrode system. A uniform discharge is obtained in He/Ne and He/Ne/H2 mixtures at the pressure P=100-300 kPa and specific energy deposition of 1-1.5 W/cm3. The 3p'[1/2]0 state of NeI is populated via the dissociative recombination of Ne2+ molecular ions with electrons and depopulated due to the quenching by hydrogen molecules (at an H2 pressure of ≥2 kPa). Such a discharge can be used to study the kinetics of processes occurring in a steady-state plasma of He/Ne/H2 mixtures at atmospheric pressure