PLASMA SPECTROSCOPY

Plasma spectroscopy is a diagnostic tool which is most suitable for th e measurement of the behaviour of impurity ions, e.g. density, tempera ture and velocity distributions, also in high temperature plasmas. In most cases accurate knowledge of atomic properties, like emitted wavel engths, transition probabilities and collision cross sections is neede d; but some quantities can be measured quite straightforwardly. This p aper undertakes to give an introduction in the field, but will refer f or more detailed descriptions to the existing literature. An overview of both theoretical and experimental methods will be attempted,with an emphasis on practical applicability.