ANALYSES OF MOLECULAR AND NEUTRAL ATOMIC-EMISSION SPECTRA FROM AN ELECTROTHERMAL LAUNCHER PLASMA

Analyses of neutral atomic copper line and C-2 Swan Band (d(3)II-a(3)I I) emission in the 420 to 570 nm spectral region from the experimental electrothermal device ''SIRENS'' have been performed to edge and core plasma densities and temperatures, Time-averaged core are temperature s of 10,000 to 22,000 K-0 and are densities of 7 x 10(23) to 2 X 10(24 ) m(-3) have been deduced by measurements along the axis of the device using the relative intensities and the Stark broadening of the copper lines, The observed C-2 band spectra were compared with synthetic spe ctra calculated using a molecular spectra-radiative transport code, At a discharge energy of 1.56 kJ, for 90(0) aspect, the C-2 temperature was determined to be about 3500 K-0, with a column density of 2 x 10(2 1) m(-2) On-axis spectra, at a discharge energy of 1.07 kJ, were found to correspond to a C-2 temperature of about 7500 K-0 and a column den sity of 7 x 10(20) m(-2) Because of the lower temperatures, it is beli eved that the C-2 emission is coming from the plasma edge.