ELECTRIC-FIELD MEASUREMENTS IN AN ARGON GLOW-DISCHARGE USING LASER SPECTROSCOPY

Direct measurements of the electric field in the sheath of a dc glow d ischarge were made using laser spectroscopic measurements of argon ato ms, The effect of the electric field on the 4s double right arrow 7f t ransitions was used to determine the electric held, Both laser opto-ga lvanic spectra and laser-induced fluorescence spectra were obtained. T he magnitude of the electric held was determined using an experimental ly obtained calibration of the change in wavelength produced by the el ectric field. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.