Spectroscopic Studies of the Laser Produced Lead Plasma

Spectroscopic emission of lead plasma, generated by the fundamental (1064 nm) and second harmonics (532 nm) of a Q-switched pulsed Nd: YAG laser, is studied. The spectral lines of neutral atoms and singly ionized lead ions were shown predominantly. The profiles of neutral lead lines observed were used to extract the excitation temperature using Boltzmann plots, whereas electron number density was determined from the profile of Stark broadened line. The variations of excitation temperature and electron number density as a function of laser energy were studied. (basic plasma phenomena)