Electron density measurements of high pressure argon surface wave plasmas

The electron density of an argon standing surface wave plasma has been measured from Stark broadening of the hydrogen H/sub beta/ (4861A) line. The experimental setup, consisting of two coaxial cavities, was similar to that reported by Rogers and Asmussen. The plasma was generated by 45 watts per cavity of CW, 2.54 GHz microwave power in a 6 mm O.D. (4 mm I.D.) quartz tube. Experimental argon gas pressure varied from 50 torr to over one atmosphere. Small amounts (1-5%) of hydrogen added to the argon plasma were found to shorten the plasma by as much as 80%. Thus, the Stark measurements were made using trace amounts of hydrogen. The line width of H/sub beta/ was measured with a 1 meter Czerny-Turner grating spectrometer. The Stark broadening measurements revealed that the electron density is between 1013 and 1014 electrons/cc for a pressure range of 50 to 1000 torr. These measurements agree very well with the electron density determined from the wavelength of standing surface waves. The volume of the plasma was also measured photographically and average plasma power densities (absorbed power in the plasma divided by the plasma volume) was calculated