Determination of the plasma parameters in a capillary discharge

Pulsed capillary discharge has been the subject of various experimental and theoretical studies. A jet of copper-hydrogen plasma with cylindrical symmetry has been developed as a light source for spectroscopic measurements. The electron density of the plasma was obtained using the Hβ spectral line of the hydrogen component of the plasma. The electron temperature was determined by means of Boltzmann method applied to copper profiles emitted by the plasma jet. The copper and hydrogen lines were broadened principally by the Stark effect. The electron density of the plasma was found to be 2 x 1017 cm-3 and the electron temperature of about 20,000 K. (authors)