NEUTRAL-HYDROGEN BEHAVIOR WITHIN RF-DISCHARGE PLASMA IN THE URAGAN-3MTORSATRON

Local measurements of the resonance fluorescent radiation of excited h ydrogen atoms were carried out in the Uragan-3M torsatron. Calculation s showed that in case of average Linear density number (n) over bar(e) approximate to 2 x 10(12) cm(-3) the excited atoms that appear due to molecule dissociation represent the major source of excited state pop ulation. Having taken into account this mechanism for population origi n, the neutral atom density at the center of plasma turned out to be n (a) approximate to (3 - 4) x 10(9) cm(-3). In case of (n) over bar(e) approximate to 9 x 10(12) cm(-3), the dissociation channel contributio n was insignificant, enabling one to find out n(a) approximate to 2 x 10(9) cm(-3) by means of conventional techniques.