LITHIUM-ARGON DISCHARGES IN A MULTICUSP-ECR MICROWAVE RESONANT-CAVITY

Argon and lithium-argon discharges have been created in a multicusp-EC R microwave resonant cavity. A double Langmuir probe has been used to determine discharge characteristics, indicating ion densities of 10(10 )-10(11) cm(-3) and electron temperatures of about 3 eV with operating pressures of 4-20 mtorr and input powers of 100-250 W. Lithium is int roduced to the system in the form of lithium chloride or lithium carbo nate which is then heated by a background argon discharge allowing dis sociation of lithium. The dissociation is evidenced by the observation of strong Li-I lines in the discharge using optical emission spectros copy. LiCl was found to give a strong Li-I optical signal for about 15 min run time whereas Li2CO3 gave lower intensity lines, but for about 60 min run time.