RADIATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF 3P-SIGMA,PI, 3D-PI(-),DELTA(-) STATES OFH-2 AND DETERMINATION OF GAS TEMPERATURE OF LOW-PRESSURE HYDROGEN-CONTAINING PLASMAS

For the first time semiempirical data on the radiative transition prob abilities for rovibronic transitions between 3p Sigma, Pi; 3d Pi(-), D elta(-) and 2p Sigma, Pi states and radiative lifetimes of upper rovib ronic levels of the hydrogen molecule were analysed in detail and pres ented in a table form useful for applications. The intensities of e(3) Sigma(u)(+), d(3) Pi(u)(+/-) --> a(3) Sigma(g)(+), i(3) Pi(g)(-), j(3 ) Delta(g)(-) --> c(3) Pi(u) and I-1 Pi(g)(-), J(1) Delta(g)(-) --> C- 1 Pi(u) band systems have been measured in d.c. capillary-arc and micr owave discharges under pressures of 1-600 Pa and a power input of 1-50 0 W. It was observed, that recalculated for the ground X(1) Sigma(g)() vibronic state, values of rotational temperature, derived from the p opulations of e(3) Sigma(u)(+), d(3) Pi(u)(+), d(3) Pi(u)(-), j(3) Del ta(g)(-) and J(1) Delta(g)(-) states, coincide within 10-20% and may b e used for plasma diagnostics. In contrast, the rotational population density distributions in I-1 Pi(g)(-) and i(3) Pi(g)(-) states show ab normal behaviour corresponding to effective temperatures, which are ab out two times higher. The effect needs further investigations in cross ed beams and gas-beam experiments. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd