Spectroscopic investigations of high-pressure microhollow cathode discharges

Most of the actual spectroscopic investigations have been focused on the ultraviolet or vacuum ultraviolet range for direct detection of the excimer. In our experiments we concentrated to investigate characteristics of the microhollow cathode discharges from the near UV to the near infrared (300-850nm), in order to measure the basic plasma parameters using standard plasma diagnostic techniques, like stark broadening for electron density and the relative line intensity method for electron temperature. In addition, the heavy particle temperature was measured by analysing the vibrational-rotational structures of the second positive system of nitrogen